1982 Map of Parson Creek

About this map

Parson Creek and its drainage network define this reach of the Montana badlands, where the high prairie begins to break toward the Smith Creek valley. The landscape is characterized by intermittent water sources and high-ground landmarks such as Blue Mountain in the south and the Lady Brown Spring to the north. This 1980s-era topography shows a sparse ranching and agricultural environment straddling the boundary between Richland and Wibaux counties. Evidence of local habitation and early twentieth-century place-naming is concentrated around the Beehive vicinity. The map documents numerous wells and cattle tanks scattered across the draws and ridges, illustrating the essential infrastructure required for stock raising in this arid portion of eastern Montana.