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1972 Map of Milk River Hills

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Milk River Hills
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Missouri River and its tributary, the Milk River, dominate this Northern Montana landscape, carving deep loops through the terrain just north of the Charles M Russell National Wildlife Range. The convergence of these waters defines a complex network of coulees and hills, including the prominent Deadman Butte and the winding Milk Coulee Bay of Fort Peck Lake. The map illustrates a landscape of working cattle ranches and infrastructure, marked by the Nickels Ranch and its adjacent Nickels Landing Strip.

Transportation history is visible through the Burlington Northern line and a parallel Old Railroad Grade tracing the valley floor. The northern portion of the quadrangle lies within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, showing a distinct land use pattern compared to the irrigated tracts along the South Canal. Small settlements like Stevens and various gaging stations highlight the historical importance of water management in this arid stretch of Valley County.