1956 Map of Rapelje

About this map

The settlement of Rapelje anchors this mid-century look at the Montana plains, situated where the high country begins to break into the Lake Basin. This area, surveyed in the 1950s, reveals a landscape defined by its water sources and topography, from the drainage of Sixshooter Creek to the seasonal courses of Middle Creek and Cedar Creek. Local history and genealogy researchers will find the Rapelje Cem south of town, alongside several family-named landmarks such as Hugh Henry Hill and Jones Hill. The presence of a Strip Mine and Gravel Pit indicates early industrial activity, while more remote outposts like Busteed and Mc Nally mark the extent of local ranching and settlement. The varied terrain of Gurney Gulch and Gurney Creek further illustrates the complex drainage patterns that shaped the early development of this portion of Stillwater County.