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1954 Map of Pierre

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Pierre
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Oahe Reservoir dominates the center of this mid-century landscape, capturing the massive scale of the Missouri River water management projects. To the north and west, the vast Cheyenne River Indian Reservation spans across the Cheyenne River valley, marked by traditional place names like No Heart Butte and Artichoke Butte. The state capital at Pierre sits at a geographic crossroads where the river meets the Chicago and North Western rail line.

Rural life is anchored by small towns and rail stops such as Onida, Agar, and Eakin Siding. The map illustrates a transitional era of western South Dakota transport, showing the network of early state roads like Route 34 alongside smaller settlements such as Kirley, Ottumwa, and Hayes. These communities serve as vital points for local history researchers tracing the development of the ranching and agricultural frontier between the Missouri and the Bad River.