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1996 Map of Racetrack

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Racetrack
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

The Montana State Prison Ranch dominates this landscape along the eastern slopes of the Deer Lodge Valley, illustrating the significant institutional land use in this part of Montana during the late twentieth century. Centered around the settlement of Racetrack, the map reveals a complex water management system essential for high-altitude ranching, including the West Side Canal, Morrison Ditch, and a series of siphons and reservoirs.

From the high peaks of Mount Powell, drainage flows eastward through Powell Creek and Dempsey Creek toward the valley floor, where the Clark Fork river defines the eastern boundary. The presence of Montana State Prison Ranch No 2 and family-named landmarks like Perkins Ranch and Ryan alongside numerous gravel pits suggests a working landscape defined by state-managed agriculture and local industry. Genealogists and researchers can trace the old property lines and infrastructure that once supported these remote operations in Powell County.