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1997 Map of Pretty Butte

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of Pretty Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2001
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2001

About this map

Little Missouri National Grassland encompasses this corner of Slope County, where the high plains are deeply dissected by the winding course of the Little Missouri River. The map reveals a remote ranching landscape during the late 1990s, defined by isolated outposts such as Brown Ranch and Williams Ranch. These sites are linked by primitive roads and four-wheel-drive trails that navigate the complex drainage systems of the Cannonball River and numerous tributaries like Horse Creek and Indian Creek.

The prominence of Pretty Butte stands as a landmark in a terrain otherwise characterized by erosion and seasonal watercourses. Multiple Flowing Well labels indicate the vital role of groundwater management for livestock in this semi-arid environment. The cartography traces the intricate network of breaks and draws where Mud Creek and Butte Creek meet the river valley, providing an essential record of the land use patterns and rural infrastructure of southwestern North Dakota.