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1958 Map of North Killdeer Mountain

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of North Killdeer Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The North Killdeer Mountain massif dominates this landscape in the Missouri River Basin, revealing a late-1950s ranching economy defined by isolated homesteads and complex drainage networks. Cattle operations are spread across the broken terrain, with the Hanson Ranch, Peterson Ranch, and Blee Ranch situated among the draws and coulees. The map illustrates how local life was tethered to the intermittent water sources of the badlands, following the course of the L Missouri R and its tributaries like Bear Creek and Chase Creek.

Topographical markers such as Round Top and the deep incisions of Big Gulch provide orientation for these rural properties. Several springs, including those near the Hawkinson Ranch, were critical assets for these high-plains operations. The intricate contour lines trace the transition from the high plateau of the mountains down to the winding river banks, preserving the exact footprint of the Sandvick Ranch, Pletan Ranch, and Benson Ranch during this post-war era.