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1956 Map of Mackay Ranch

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Mackay Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Rosebud Creek carves a winding path through this rugged section of the Montana landscape, serving as a vital corridor for early 20th-century ranching operations. The map documents the intricate water management systems of the era, showcasing numerous irrigation channels such as the Phillips Ditch, Oakley-Parker Ditch, and the Peabody Canal that support the high-altitude pastures. These water features reveal the agricultural reliance on the creek as it flows between the Stillwater and Carbon county line.

Several family-named holdings are dispersed across the terrain, including the Mackay Ranch (Lazy EL), Top Hat Ranch, and Reeves Ranch. To the south, the timbered slopes of Custer National Forest rise toward Black Butte, marking the transition from ranch land to protected wilderness. The inclusion of a Landing Strip and an Oil Well near Antelope Basin points to the diverse economic activities beyond livestock, providing a detailed record of the region’s development prior to the mid-1950s.