1918 Map of Porcupine Valley

About this map

Porcupine Valley in Valley County serves as the central focal point for this landscape surveyed just before the end of the First World War. The drainage systems of Porcupine Creek and the East Fork dictate the region's topography, carving deep into the surrounding plateaus. This era in eastern Montana shows a territory organized by the General Land Office, where topography was often defined more by water and erosion than by town infrastructure. Local landmarks like Enright Coulee and Union Coulee break the plains, while the named area of Sargent and the waters of Cherry Creek provide reference points for early twentieth-century land claims. The intricate contour lines illustrate the stark relief between the valley floors and the high breaks typical of this part of the Missouri River watershed.