1978 Map of Strouf Island

About this map

The winding boundary between Chouteau Co and Fergus Co follows the dramatic, serpentine course of Arrow Creek, a prominent feature of this Central Montana landscape in the late 1970s. The map illustrates a transitional topography where the high plains break into steep coulees and deep drainage systems. A notable section of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad cuts through the northwest, crossing Cowboy Creek near a site labeled Butte. The terrain transitions from the elevated flats of the Bench in the southeast toward the intricate river valleys. Small, localized landmarks such as the Flowing Well and Strouf Island provide specific points of reference for researchers tracing the historical grazing or transit patterns of this sparsely populated ranching region. The confluence of Big Coulee and Coffee Creek further defines the water-scarce geography of the area.