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1949 Map of Manhattan

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Manhattan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The confluence of the Gallatin River, Madison River, and Missouri River anchors this postwar landscape, where the convergence of major waterways and competing rail lines defined the region's development. The Northern Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads parallel these rivers, serving industrial sites like the cement plant at Trident and agricultural hubs such as Manhattan. The mapping captures a network of complex irrigation systems, including the Warm Springs Canal and Lowline Canal, which transformed the valley floor into productive ranching land.

Local history is preserved in the numerous family ranches and rural institutions dotting the hills and plains. Settlements like Amsterdam and Central Park are surrounded by landmarks like Church Hill Church and the Heeb School. For genealogists, the sheet provides exact locations for the Logan Cemetery and Meadowview Cemetery, alongside early 20th-century family holdings including the Rice Ranch, Sinnema Ranch, and Lockhart Ranch.