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1977 Map of Scott Creek

Name: 1977 Topographic Map of Scott Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Little Missouri River meanders through the eastern section of this northwestern South Dakota landscape, defining a region where water and topography dictated movement and survival. In the mid-1970s, the terrain was marked by numerous intermittent watercourses like Scott Creek, Wagoneer Creek, and the evocatively named Dipping Vat Draw, illustrating the ranching heritage of Harding County. Notable landforms such as Bleak Butte and Profile Butte rise above the drainage basins, serving as permanent landmarks in an area of sparse settlement.

Industrial and transit points are sparsely distributed, reflecting the utility of the land during this era. A Landing Strip and multiple Scoria Pits indicate localized activity, while river crossings like Salmen Ford and other unnamed Fords along the river and its tributaries like Middle Creek show how locals navigated the winding waterways before extensive bridge networks. The map also notes proximity to both the North Dakota and Montana state lines, placing this high plains territory at a geographic crossroads.