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1983 Map of Shade Creek

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Shade Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Shade Creek and its complex drainage network define this high plains landscape in eastern Montana as it appeared in the late 1970s. The topography is dominated by deep seasonal draws and the prominent Willis Buttes, which rise above the surrounding prairie. This area shows a distinct pattern of water-carved erosion, where intermittent flows like Williams Coulee and South Fork Shade Creek have sculpted the terrain over generations.

Remote and sparsely populated, the map reveals the critical importance of water sources in this arid environment, evidenced by named locations such as Crow Springs. The network of tributary names—including Figure Eight Creek, Emily Coulee, and Sadie Coulee—suggests a landscape primarily utilized for ranching and open-range grazing. The absence of major settlements highlights the solitude of this portion of McCone County, where geography is marked by the way water moves across the dry earth.