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1953 Map of Rocky Lake

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Rocky Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Missouri River bluffs and the winding drainages of the Missouri River Basin characterize this Chouteau County landscape during the early 1950s. The map captures a high-plateau environment defined by ephemeral water sources and isolated rural infrastructure. Notable landmarks include the strangely named Round Tap and the cautionary Barrel Spring (Polluted), indicating the importance of viable water sources in this arid stretch.

Rural education centers serve as the primary anchors for the scattered homesteads, with Elim School, Ridge School, and Harwood School spaced miles apart across the territory. Windmills are frequently noted, suggesting a reliance on groundwater for livestock or local use. The southern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by Rocky Lake and the prominent elevation of Shaws Peak, providing a clear view of the transition from the river's coulees to the higher Montana plains.