1959 Map of Lone Butte NE

About this map

Little Missouri River bottomlands dominate the eastern edge of this western North Dakota landscape, showing a complex network of breaks and drainages in the late 1950s. The terrain is defined by prominent high points like Haystack Butte and Round Top Butte, while the northern portion is marked by the expansive Bear Den plateau. This area represents the rural ranching economy of McKenzie and Dunn Counties, where isolated homesteads such as Johnson Ranch and Mandal Ranch are situated near vital water sources like Cherry Creek and Elkhorn Creek. The map documents a period of development focused on the Missouri River Basin, capturing the placement of deep-country infrastructure such as a Flowing Well and Rough Creek trails. This record is particularly valuable for tracing historical land use in the rugged Badlands-adjacent territory before modern oil and gas expansion altered the surface character of the region.