1979 Map of Mills Creek West

About this map

Monarch Creek and a network of numbered and named tributaries define this Custer County landscape as it appeared in the late 1970s. The terrain is characterized by intricate drainage systems feeding into Mills Creek, including First Creek, Second Creek, and Third Creek. This systematic naming convention, alongside features like May Creek and Elmhurst Creek, illustrates the essential relationship between water sources and land management in this part of Montana. Human modification of the arid environment is evident through the presence of Jones Reservoir and Love Reservoir. The survey also captures evidence of industrial exploration or geological testing, with several Drill Hole locations marked across the quadrangle, particularly near the headwaters of Third Creek and along the eastern boundary. The absence of major settlements highlights the remote, ranching-oriented character of the region during this era.