Loading map...

1964 Map of Melton Ranch

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Melton Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Isolated homesteads and intricate watercourses define this mid-1960s landscape along the Lake Co Sanders Co line. The Little Bitterroot River meanders across the northern plains, while the Flathead River cuts through the northeastern corner, marking the boundary of the region's hydrography. Small-scale ranching operations are the primary sign of human habitation, with established sites such as Melton Ranch, Jennings Ranch, and Anderson Ranch situated near reliable water sources like Whiskey Creek.

The terrain transitions from open valleys into steep gulches and draws, including Racehorse Gulch and Davenport Draw to the south. Evidence of local industry is sparse but present, notably at a Gravel Pit near Haynes Ranch. This survey, based on 1958 aerial photography, records a period when the economy remained tied to the land and its numerous springs, before significant modern development reached this section of Sanders County.