1953 Map of Nemo

About this map

Black Hills National Forest land dominates this mid-century topographical study, revealing the complex drainage networks and scattered outposts of western South Dakota. The map captures the rugged interior of the Black Hills as it appeared in the early 1950s, highlighting the importance of isolated rural institutions such as the Hillside Sch and the community center at Nemo. The landscape is a network of draws and creeks, where Boxelder Creek and its many forks carve through the timbered terrain. Notable for local historians, the presence of the Lucky Strike Mine near Hay Creek points to the area's legacy of resource extraction. The southern boundary marks the transition between Lawrence Co and Pennington County, where the settlement of Merritt and the lookout at Pilot Knob stand as prominent landmarks in the deep gulches and high peaks of the Black Hills region.