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1962 Map of Maxwell Ranch

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Maxwell Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Maxwell Ranch sits as a central landmark in this remote stretch of Central Montana, where Petroleum, Garfield, Rosebud, and Musselshell counties converge. The landscape is defined by an intricate drainage system feeding into the Musselshell River, which winds through the northeastern corner. Waterways such as North Willow Creek, Mud Creek, and Dutton Creek carve through the terrain, illustrating the critical role of water management in this ranching environment.

A solitary Drill Hole south of the ranch house and an east-west Pipeline across the northern sections suggest early resource exploration during the mid-century. These features, along with the network of coulees like Magnolia Coulee and Sage Coulee, provide a clear picture of the geographic challenges and industrial attempts characteristic of Petroleum County in the early 1960s. The map captures a moment when the vast land was primarily organized by water access and nascent infrastructure.