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1965 Map of Mud Buttes

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Mud Buttes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The vast, arid plains of Butte County are defined here by a network of seasonal watercourses and remote ranching outposts. This ranching landscape is punctuated by landforms like Mud Buttes and Roundout, while the northern portion of the Belle Fourche Reservoir dominates the southern reach. The map captures a way of life centered on scattered family operations, including Kipfinger Ranch, Beale Ranch, and Hanley Ranch, which rely on the drainage basins of Owl Creek, Bitter Creek, and Wildcat Creek.

Social infrastructure for this isolated community is represented by the Owl Creek School, a vital landmark for local families. The presence of a Pipeline and 85 running north-south indicates the integration of this livestock-driven economy with regional energy and transport networks. Smaller water management features like Guidinger Reservoir further highlight the critical role of water conservation in the West River region.