2017 Map of May Ranch

About this map

May Ranch sits within the high plains of central South Dakota, marking a point of human settlement in a landscape defined by an intricate network of drainage systems. The terrain is deeply etched by the seasonal flow of Cottonwood Cr and Plum Cr, which carve through the dry grassland before crossing the Haakon and Stanley county line. The map reveals a remote ranching economy dependent on reliable water access, as seen in the positioning of buildings relative to the riparian corridors and the winding path of Big Prairie Dog Cr. Development is sparse, consisting primarily of section roads like Dusty Ridge Rd and township lines that organize this portion of the northern Great Plains into a geometric grid.