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1902 Map of Little Belt Mts.

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of Little Belt Mts.
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

White Sulphur Springs serves as the focal point for this expansive late 19th-century mountain landscape, where the early extraction of Montana's mineral wealth is evident in the presence of the Sapphire Mine and the mining camp of Neihart. The region is defined by the high elevations of the Little Belt Mountains Forest Reserve and the sharp peaks of the Crazy Mountains, including the prominent Crazy Peak.

Evidence of early ranching and mining industry is scattered across the drainages of the Smith River and Musselshell River, with small outposts like Copperopolis, Leadboro, and Blackhawk marking the era's economic expansion. The network of waterways, from Sixteenmile Creek to Tenderfoot Cr., provides a view of the natural corridors used for travel before modern highways. Natural features such as Moss Agate Springs and Brewer Springs highlight the geothermal character of the area, while the boundary lines of Meagher Co., Cascade Co., and Fergus Co. show the political organization of the territory during its early development.