1953 Map of Stranahan

About this map

The Missouri River defines the northern landscape of this region, sweeping past Churchill Bend and the gravel deposit at Crow Coulee Bar. At this time in the early 1950s, the Great Northern railroad tracks follow the river's southern bank through the small settlement of Stranahan. The interior is marked by deep drainage patterns, specifically Crow Coulee and Rowe Coulee, which cut through the high plains. Evidence of shifting rural populations is visible in the presence of several former community centers, including the School (Aban'd) near the river and the East Wayside School (Aban'd) to the southeast. A small Landing Strip sits on the benchland, highlighting the importance of aerial access in this expansive Montana cattle and wheat country.