1973 Map of Rattlesnake Hill

About this map

The boundary between Custer and Powder River counties divides this high plains landscape, centered on the prominent elevation of Rattlesnake Hill. Mapping from the early 1970s reveals a sparsely settled ranching territory defined by intermittent drainage systems such as Little Corral Creek, Horse Creek, and Cross Creek. Human presence is marked by essential water infrastructure, including several scattered wells and a spring, alongside a series of fence lines that trace the section boundaries of the public land survey system. The topography is further anchored by the east-west orientation of the Base Line, a fundamental surveying reference for the region. This document captures the remote character of Montana's southeastern rangelands before significant modern development, emphasizing the relationship between limited water resources and the vast livestock grazing tracts of the era.