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1980 Map of Pretty Butte

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Pretty Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Little Missouri River snakes through the badlands of Slope County, North Dakota, defining the drainage patterns of this semi-arid landscape. Numerous tributary systems, including Cannonball Creek, Horse Creek, and Mud Creek, have carved intricate coulees into the high plains. The prominent landmark Pretty Butte stands in the southern section of the quadrangle, serving as a primary navigational point amidst the dissected terrain.

Evidence of local ranching and water management is seen through the many dispersed sites labeled Flowing Well and Well, which were essential for sustaining livestock in this environment. Transportation is limited to a network of unimproved roads and a rugged Jeep Trail, reflecting the low-density settlement pattern of the western Dakotas in the late twentieth century. This survey, based on 1973 photography, preserves the exact locations of survey benchmarks like BM 2678 and BM 2652 during a period when these prairie landscapes remained largely dedicated to open-range grazing.