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1953 Map of Rapid City

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Rapid City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Black Hills National Forest dominates the western landscape of this mid-century survey, anchoring a region defined by high peaks and strategic military installations. From the dense cluster of mining towns like Lead and Galena to the expansive plains of the Cheyenne River basin, the map illustrates the 1950s infrastructure of western South Dakota. A significant highlight is Ellsworth Air Force Base and the Fort Meade Veterans Administration Hospital, marking the area's importance as a federal and military hub.

Railroad networks, including the Chicago and North Western and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific, provide the vital links between agricultural settlements like Newell and the regional center of Rapid City. To the north and east, the terrain transitions into a series of distinctive geological landmarks such as Deers Ears Buttes and Bear Butte, while the Belle Fourche Res showcases the large-scale water management projects essential to the high plains.