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1951 Map of Murdo 3 NE

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Murdo 3 NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The White River carves a winding path across the northern reaches of this landscape, marking the natural boundary between Mellette and Jones counties. Situated in the early 1950s, this area is defined by its deep drainage patterns and the broad Cottonwood Valley to the south. The terrain is characterized by the intricate dissected uplands of Mullen, where numerous draws and ridges feed into Cottonwood Creek and other unnamed tributaries.

Evidence of rural community life is sparse but significant, centered on the Valley View Sch located near the heart of the quadrangle. This survey, conducted as part of the Department of the Interior's Missouri River Basin development program, captures the topography after the 1949 aerial photography and 1951 field checks, providing a look at the remote ranching and agricultural landscape of south-central South Dakota before modern land-use changes.