1958 Map of Lost Wells Butte

About this map

Lost Wells Butte rises as a prominent landmark over the Missouri Valley in this late 1950s depiction of Fremont County. The landscape is defined by the extensive irrigation and drainage engineering of the Riverton Reclamation Withdrawal Area, a project managed by the Bureau of Reclamation to transform this arid region into productive farmland. A network of waterways including the Pilot Canal, Fivemile Drain, and the Lost Wells Lateral crisscrosses the valley floor, supporting a growing agricultural community. Local life is anchored by social and religious landmarks like the Union Church and the Paradise Valley Community House. The presence of several Gravel Pits and the established route of the Missouri Valley Road further indicate the infrastructure development following the initial mid-century surveys.