1981 Map of Morris Butte

About this map

The Pennel Oil Field dominates this eastern Montana landscape, where industrial infrastructure meets the natural drainage systems of the high plains. Surveyed in the mid-1970s and edited in 1981, the map reveals a pattern of scattered oil wells and access roads concentrated west of Pennel Creek. This energy production is juxtaposed with early rural landmarks, most notably the O'Donnell Sch, which serves as a vital genealogical marker for local ranching families. The terrain is defined by its namesake Morris Butte and other prominent elevations like Grassy Butte and Cedar Butte, which rise above the winding paths of Cottonwood Creek and Johny Creek. The presence of these named schools and family-referenced landforms provides a clear view of the intersection between traditional land use and the development of the region's petroleum resources during the late twentieth century.