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1965 Map of Kirby Ranch

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Kirby Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Kirby Ranch sits near the center of this 1960s landscape in Garfield County, a region defined by its complex network of seasonal watercourses and coulees. The map illustrates the rugged drainage patterns of the Missouri River breaks, dominated by the winding paths of Second Creek and Lone Tree Creek. To the south, the topography is shaped by the split of the East Fork and West Fork, where numerous small stock wells and windmills are noted alongside the drainages.

State Route 22 cuts a diagonal path through the terrain, providing a rare human-made landmark in a territory largely defined by natural features like Lynch Coulee and Long Branch Creek. The abundance of marked wells suggests the importance of water management for the ranching operations that have long characterized this portion of eastern Montana. This survey provides a clear view of the land division and hydraulic infrastructure prior to modern agricultural shifts.