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1956 Map of Rochford

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Rochford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The gold-mining legacy of the Black Hills is clearly visible in this mid-century survey of the central highlands. The settlement of Rochford serves as a focal point, situated near the Standby Mine and a Ranger Station, illustrating the region's dual history of resource extraction and federal land management within the Black Hills National Forest. To the south, the industrial footprint continues with Lookout Mill and the Cuttys Ark Mine, while the Chicago Burlington and Quincy rail line winds through the gulches to reach Mystic.

Rural life outside the mining camps is centered on Slate Prairie, where the Slate Prairie Sch and Slate Prairie Ch provided essential community infrastructure. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of drainages such as Castle Creek, Rapid Creek, and Silver Creek, many named for the minerals sought or the characters who prospected these narrow valleys, including Moonshine Gulch and Bloody Gulch.