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1900 Map of Oelrichs

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Oelrichs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Hot Springs serves as the focal point of this late 19th-century survey, situated where the terrain transitions from the foothills of Battle Mtn. and Gypsum Butte toward the prairie floor. The development of the region is defined by the route of the Fremont Elkhorn and Missouri Valley railroad, which links the settlements of Buffalo Gap, Smithwick, and Oelrichs. This rail corridor follows the natural drainage of the Cheyenne River and its tributaries, providing the vital transportation link for local industry, including the Elm Creek Quarry and Evans Quarry.

Beyond the established townships, the map reveals a landscape of early cattle operations and isolated landmarks such as Warrens Ranch and Sickels Ranch. The complex hydrology of the area is well-documented through named draws and creeks like Horse Camp Draw and Lame Johnny Creek, which were essential for sustaining the livestock and early homesteads shown near the South Dakota Nebraska boundary line.