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1956 Map of Rapids

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Rapids
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Yellowstone River cuts a prominent path through this 1950s landscape, serving as a geographic divide and the foundation for regional irrigation. Significant engineering is evident in the Cove Ditch and Big Ditch, which divert water to support agriculture along the river valley. The Northern Pacific railroad follows the northern bank, passing through the small siding at Rapids and near Youngs Point, illustrating the vital connection between rail transport and the rural economy.

South of the river, the terrain rises into the dissected plateaus of Wolf Canyon, where the map identifies localized centers of community life such as Cow Creek Sch and Monahan Sch. These rural schools, alongside family-named landmarks like Westover Island, provide essential touchpoints for genealogists tracing the mid-century footprint of Carbon and Stillwater counties. The presence of a Gravel Pit and numerous springs, including Poison Spring, further characterizes the local land use and hydrology during this era of development in the Missouri River Basin.