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1980 Map of McIntosh

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of McIntosh
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

McIntosh sits near the northern boundary of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, serving as a central hub for the prairie landscape of Corson County during the early 1980s. The northern corridor of the map follows the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, which connects a string of small settlements including Morristown, Watauga, Keldron, and Thunder Hawk. This rail-aligned settlement pattern reflects the traditional grain-hauling infrastructure of the Great Plains, where towns were established at regular intervals to support local agricultural transport.

South of the rail line, the terrain becomes more varied as it descends toward the Grand River and its numerous tributaries, such as Hay Creek and Plum Creek. The presence of the Grand River National Grassland and Cedar River National Grassland highlights the region's focus on managed prairie ecosystems. Notable landmarks like Hump Butte and Black Horse Butte rise above the surrounding drainages, while more remote communities like Bullhead and Miscol are found deeper within the reservation lands.