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1956 Map of Rochford

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

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The rugged gulches and mining history of Pennington County are meticulously detailed in this mid-century study of the Black Hills National Forest. Settlement patterns follow the winding tracks of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad, which threads through the narrow valleys of Rapid Creek and Slate Creek. Local industry and community life are grounded in landmarks such as the Standby Mine near Rochford, the Lookout Mill, and the Cuttys Ark Mine.

Further south, the landscape opens into Slate Prairie, where the rural infrastructure of the Slate Prairie Church and Slate Prairie School served the high-altitude residents. The map's extensive nomenclature for the surrounding terrain, from Moonshine Gulch to Hoodoo Gulch, reflects a deep history of prospecting and ranching. Topographic features like Castle Peak and Signal Knob tower over the creek beds, anchoring the geography of this mining-era landscape.