1982 Map of Murdo 3 NW

About this map

The wide, ranching landscape of Mellette County is defined here by a series of family-held properties and deep drainage valleys. Local history is tied to specific homesteads such as the Jarl-Knispel Ranch, Harris Ranch, and a cluster of Chamberlain family sites including the Marvin Chamberlain Ranch and Charles Chamberlain Ranch. This 1982 provisional survey reflects the enduring cattle-rearing economy of South Dakota's interior, where land is organized around vital water sources like Cottonwood Creek and the bifurcating paths of the North Branch Pine Creek and South Branch Pine Creek. The terrain transitions from the upland heights of Running Bird into the broad expanses of Cottonwood Valley and Surprise Valley, illustrating the complex network of draws and ridges that dictated settlement patterns and grazing routes.