1969 Map of Tepee Butte

About this map

The Powder River meanders through this portion of Custer County, shaping a landscape defined by its wide alluvial valley and the surrounding high plains. In the late 1960s, the region’s ranching character is anchored by established landmarks such as Kohones Ranch and Campbell Ranch. The map reveals a sophisticated network of water management essential for high-plains agriculture, featuring the Tepee Butte Reservoir and numerous Flowing Wells scattered near the riverbanks. Drainage systems including Little Tepee Creek, Big Tepee Creek, and Alkali Creek carve through the terrain toward the prominent landmark of Tepee Butte in the northeast. This survey captures a moment of traditional land use where natural topography and sparse, named ranching outposts dictate the settlement pattern of eastern Montana.