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1960 Map of Superior

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Superior
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Clark Fork river valley serves as the primary corridor for transportation and settlement in this 1960 Montana survey. The town of Superior occupies a narrow shelf along the river, flanked by the competing lines of the Northern Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads. This infrastructure supported a regional economy once heavily dependent on timber and mineral extraction, evidenced by the Iron Mountain Mine and various Old Mountain Mines situated deep in the surrounding canyons.

Most of the terrain is contained within the Lolo National Forest, where steep gulches like Oregon Gulch and China Gulch drain toward the river. Remote landmarks such as the Quartz Guard Sta and the Trout Creek Campground indicate the early development of forest management and recreation. Peaks including Thompson Peak and Sunrise Mountain define the high country, while a lonely Footbridge near Nemote crosses the river, connecting small settlements to the rail lines.