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

The Little Bitterroot River and its varied tributaries define the landscape of this 1964 survey, capturing a specific era of high-country agriculture and ranching. Family-run operations like the Melton Ranch, Jennings Ranch, and Anderson Ranch are recorded along the valley floor, connected by unimproved dirt roads that follow the natural contours of the land. The topography transitions from the alluvial plains of the river to steeper terrain marked by distinctive landforms such as Racehorse Gulch and Ferry Basin.

A network of springs and draws, including Wilcox Draw and Davenport Draw, indicates the vital importance of water management in this arid region of Sanders and Lake Counties. Industrial traces are present as well, with unnamed Mines and a Gravel Pit noted in the southern hills. The inclusion of the Flathead River in the northeastern corner provides a point of reference for the broader drainage system of Western Montana, documenting the rural character of the area before modern development altered these working landscapes.