1967 Map of Slim Butte SW

About this map

Slim Butte dominates the northern reaches of this High Plains landscape, where the broken topography of the butte formations meets the sweeping prairie along the South Dakota and Nebraska border. This 1967 field-checked survey documents a transition in the land's management and identity, clearly marking the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Boundary as it cuts across the section lines. The drainage patterns of Slim Butte Creek and Alkali Creek define the local hydrology, while the isolated Wild Landing Field suggests the continued importance of small-scale aviation for remote ranching and land management in the mid-twentieth century. The southern portion of the map transition into the East Chadron area of Nebraska, showing the sparse network of unimproved roads and livestock fences that characterize this borderland region.