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1967 Map of Nelson Coulee

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Nelson Coulee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Musselshell River carves a winding path through the heart of this landscape, forming the boundary between Petroleum and Garfield counties. This 1960s survey documents a region defined by extensive coulees and remote ranching outposts, including the Matovich Ranch and the settlement at Gibbs. Much of the northern terrain is preserved within the Charles M Russell National Wildlife Range, where the river eventually meets the Fort Peck Reservoir.

Genealogists and local historians can locate the Coop Cem and several named water sources vital to this arid country, such as School Section Spring and the Davis Well. The intricate drainage system of the Missouri River breaks is visible through named features like Nelson Coulee, Lodgepole Creek, and Bratten Coulee, illustrating the complex topography that shaped early Montana livestock operations.