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1948 Map of Portage

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Portage
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Missouri River cuts a deep, winding course through the plains of Central Montana, defining the landscape where the industrial and military presence of the Great Falls area meets the surrounding ranchlands. The southern edge of the map is anchored by significant infrastructure, including the Morony Dam and Rainbow Dam, alongside the Great Falls Army Air Force Base. These sites, along with the C M St P & P Yards and the State Deaf & Dumb School, reflect a period of substantial mid-century development.

Away from the river banks, the high plateaus are divided by coulees such as Widow Coulee and Sand Coulee, where smaller settlements and family-named landmarks like Golie Ranch and Sheffels dot the terrain. Transportation is dominated by competing rail lines, with the Great Northern and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads following the natural contours of the river valley and the open prairie to serve rural elevators and small communities like Portage and Floweree.