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1948 Map of Portage

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Portage
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Missouri River cuts a deep, winding path through this portion of Montana, dictating the development of industrial and military infrastructure in the years following World War II. Hydroelectric power is central to the local economy, anchored by the Morony Dam, Ryan Dam, and Rainbow Dam. Near the bend in the river, the Great Falls Army Air Force Base sits adjacent to the C M ST P & P Yards, highlighting the area's strategic transportation and defense significance.

Settlement patterns are defined by small rural hubs and institutional sites. The village of Portage and the Sheffels elevator serve the surrounding agricultural lands, while education is represented by the Roosevelt Sch, Salem Sch, and the State Deaf & Dumb School in Great Falls. The landscape is further marked by numerous coulees such as Huntley Coulee and Blackfeet Coulee, which drain into the river valley through breaks in the high plains.