1954 Map of Sunny Divide

About this map

Sunny Divide anchors this topographic study of Crook County, where the high ridges of H K Divide separate the drainage of the Belle Fourche River from local creek systems. Published as a preliminary edition during a mid-century collaboration between the United States Geological Survey and the United States Atomic Energy Commission, the map provides a look at a landscape defined by ranching and rural education. Scattered across the complex terrain are localized centers of community life, including the Sunny Divide School, States School, and Hill School, which served the families of nearby settlements like Schultz and Whitman. The transition from the alluvial flats near Miller Creek to the elevated plateau of The Bank reflects the geographic challenges faced by early residents, with the single artery of Route 14 providing the primary connection through the north-western corner of the quadrangle.