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1954 Map of Sturgeon Island

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Sturgeon Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Missouri River winds through this central Montana landscape, marking the boundary between Blaine County and Fergus County during the mid-1950s. The topography is dominated by the sharp elevation changes of Ervin Ridge and the complex drainage systems of Bullwhacker Creek and Little Bullwhacker Creek. This survey was conducted as part of a Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin, documenting a period when the river's course still dictated the local geography and ranching patterns.

Remote outposts like Gist Ranch represent the sparse human footprint in this reach of the river. The map details a network of Jeep Trails that provide the only access across the dissected breaks, while Sturgeon Island sits as a prominent feature in the main channel. To the south, Woodhawk Creek flows toward the river, cutting through the high plateaus characteristic of the region's northern plains transition.