Loading map...

1961 Map of Melrose

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Melrose
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Big Hole River carves a deep path through this Montana landscape, where the settlement of Melrose stands as a rail-centered hub on the Union Pacific line. This 1961 survey, updated in the late 1970s, reveals a terrain defined by early extraction and sophisticated water management. Numerous mining operations, such as the Old Glory Mine and Maiden Rock Mine, dot the slopes of Old Glory Mountain and the surrounding gulches, while an intricate network of irrigation canals like the McCauley Ditch and Pendergast Ditch divert water to the valley floor.

Industrial activity is balanced by significant natural landmarks, including the prominent Maiden Rock and the high elevations of Goat Mountain within the Beaverhead National Forest. For those researching local families, the Melrose Cem and scattered springs like Selway Spring and Trapper Spring provide specific geographic anchors. The map also documents the convergence of several county boundaries, where Silver Bow, Beaverhead, and Madison counties meet near the southern river bends.