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1951 Map of Red Shirt

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Red Shirt
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Cheyenne River winds through this landscape, marking the northern boundary of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where it meets the border of Custer and Shannon Counties. The small community of Red Shirt is positioned near the river's edge, serving as a focal point for the surrounding Pine Ridge and Table terrain. This 1951 survey, updated in the late 1970s, illustrates the complex drainage system of the region, where Battle Creek, Red Shirt Creek, and French Creek converge toward the main river valley.

The map reveals the intersection of tribal lands and county divisions during a period of infrastructure development for the Missouri River Basin. Practical features like a river Ford indicate the local importance of traditional crossing points in an area defined by significant elevation changes and seasonal watercourses. Researchers can trace the layout of the reservation boundary and the distribution of land across this southwestern South Dakota landscape.