1981 Map of Rousseau Creek NW

About this map

Ranching life on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation defines this 1981 study of Dewey County. The landscape is oriented around the drainage systems of Rousseau Creek and its major forks, the East Branch and West Branch, which carve through the high plains. Scattered across these grasslands are numerous family operations, including the Keckler Ranch, Ducheneaux Ranch, and Fisher Ranch. These named landmarks provide a genealogical window into the land use of the late twentieth century, showing a pattern of isolated ranchsteads connected by unimproved roads. Further watercourses like Fishgut Creek and Hosapa Creek highlight the importance of seasonal water management in this semi-arid region of South Dakota.