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1951 Map of Smithwick NW

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Smithwick NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Cheyenne River winds through the heart of this 1951 landscape, carving a deep valley that separates the high plateaus of Harrison Flat to the north from the expansive W G Flat to the south. This terrain is characterized by dramatic elevation changes where the river and its tributaries, including Lame Johnny Creek and Plumb Creek, have etched complex drainage patterns into the South Dakota soil.

Remote community life is centered around the W G Flat Sch, a vital landmark for the rural families living in this part of Fall River County during the mid-century. This map captures a specific moment in the development of the Missouri River Basin, documenting the sparse road network and scattered bench marks before significant modern alterations. The detailed topography reveals the land as it was seen during the aerial photography surveys of 1949, highlighting landforms like Hay Canyon and the county line shared with Custer County.