1956 Map of Rattlesnake

About this map

The Bearpaw Mountains dominate this mid-century topographic survey, where isolated summits like Black Butte and Taylor Butte rise above a landscape of benches and coulees. This area of Blaine County is characterized by its high-altitude grazing land and complex drainage systems, including Peoples Creek and Cow Creek. The mapping effort, based on mid-1950s aerial photography, reveals a sparse settlement pattern centered around the namesake community of Rattlesnake and the Rattlesnake Sch. Land use is further illustrated by the inclusion of water management features such as the Four O'Clock Reservoir and the various cattle benches like Runyan Bench and TU Bench. The transition from the high peaks to the flatter expanses of Wilson Desert highlights the varied terrain that defined ranching life in north-central Montana during this era.