1965 Map of Needle Butte

About this map

Needle Butte and Sunday Butte rise as prominent landmarks across a landscape defined by the drainage systems of the Montana plains during the mid-1960s. The terrain is deeply etched by intermittent watercourses like Bootjack Creek and Nordang Coulee, which flow toward the southern portion of the map where the Sunday Creek Reservoir captures local runoff. This reservoir, along with Sweetser Spring, highlights the critical importance of water management for ranching and livestock in this arid environment.