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1909 Map of Sheridan

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Sheridan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Sheridan serves as the focal point of this early 20th-century landscape, where the growing settlement is framed by the Bighorn Mountains to the west and the rolling Badger Hills to the north. This survey, based on data from 1898 and 1909, illustrates a critical period of development as the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR cuts a path through the valley, linking rail stops like Arno, Verona, and Ulm. The map reveals an economy transitioning between military presence at Fort Mackenzie and a burgeoning agricultural and mining network, indicated by Dietz and several large homesteads.

The topography is defined by the complex drainage of the Tongue River and its tributaries, including Goose Creek and Prairie Dog Creek. Notable for genealogists and local historians are the scattered ranching outposts such as Wagoner Ranch, Wolfen Ranch, and Big Red Ranch, which appear alongside small settlements like Story and Banner at the foot of the Bighorn National Forest. The map also clearly delineates the Montana-Wyoming border and county lines, providing a detailed look at the jurisdictional boundaries of the era.