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1956 Map of Roscoe NW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Roscoe NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Agricultural water rights define the landscape of south-central Montana in this mid-century survey of the Stillwater and Carbon county line. The drainage of West Rosebud Creek and East Rosebud Creek is extensively managed by a complex network of named irrigation works, including the Sylvester Ditch, Woodard Ditch, and the Rosebud Ditch Co. These features reveal a history of family-led land development, evidenced by labels like the Espeland-Ostrum-George Ditch and the Kyle-Ferster Seely Ditch.

Cultural landmarks are concentrated near the Rosebud Community Center, which serves as a small hub along with the nearby Smith Bridge and a local Cem. The map also preserves the location of the Reverend Madison Historical Monument on a rise overlooking Butcher Creek. The terrain rises from the creek bottoms to high plateaus such as Coleman Bench, providing a clear look at the hydraulic engineering required for ranching in this era.