1984 Map of Malta

About this map

The Milk River flows across the northern reaches of this Phillips County landscape, anchoring a corridor of rail and road infrastructure that defines the region's settlement pattern. The Burlington Northern railroad serves as the primary artery connecting the communities of Malta, Strater, and Saco, tracing the path of the river valley. Central to the map is the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, where Lake Bowdoin and the Dry Lake Unit provide a significant aquatic contrast to the surrounding terrain. To the south, the expansive Larb Hills rise above the drainage of Sevenmile Creek and Beaver Creek. This 1984 compilation by the U.S. Geological Survey integrates data from over a decade of topographic surveys, offering a clear view of the water management systems around Nelson Reservoir and the Le Noir Reservoir during a period of established ranching and conservation in north-central Montana.