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1956 Map of Laurel

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The city of Laurel sits at a critical junction of river-valley agriculture and heavy industry, as shown in this mid-century survey updated with late-1960s urban expansions. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Yellowstone River and the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River, which support an intricate network of irrigation including the Big Ditch, Cove Ditch, and White Horse Canal.

Industrial development is anchored by a large refinery and the extensive tracks of the Burlington Northern railroad, while local social life is recorded through numerous institutions like St Anthonys Ch, St Johns Ch, and schools such as West Grade Sch. The map also preserves the courses of the historic Buffalo Trail and Italian Trail, which cross the higher ground of Clappers Flat and the surrounding benches, tracing older routes through the Montana territory.