1957 Map of Seely

About this map

Little Missouri River drainage dominates this mid-century livestock-ranching landscape on the Montana Wyoming border. The territory is defined by a sparse network of family-held properties such as the Stoddard Ranch, Whitney Ranch, and Foster Ranch, many of which were serviced by a localized network of country schools. Educational outposts like Government Canyon Sch and Jay Sch highlight the dispersed settlement patterns typical of this era in the High Plains. To the south, the topography shifts near Strawberry Hill, where the Belle Fourche River cuts through the terrain. Notable local landmarks such as Lovers Leap and Bay Mtn rise above the complex system of draws and creeks, including Scoggin Draw and Engine Canyon, which provided vital drainage for the region's cattle and sheep operations during the 1950s.