2017 Map of Richey SE

About this map

Big Sheep Mountains dominate the southern reach of this Dawson County landscape, marking a rugged transition in the high plains of eastern Montana. The map documents a sparsely populated ranching and agricultural region defined by the intricate drainage systems of the E Fork Pasture Cr and W Fork Pasture Cr. These seasonal waterways carve deep coulees into the plateau, dictating the placement of the section-line roads such as Rd 431 and Rd 433 that navigate the high ground. In the northern corner, the Richey Airport serves as a vital transportation node for this expansive territory. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey captures the enduring Public Land Survey System grid, which continues to organize the vast open spaces of the northern Great Plains into the townships and ranges established over a century ago.