1954 Map of The Forks

About this map

The Belle Fourche River snakes through the high plains of Wyoming and South Dakota in this mid-century topographic study, which was jointly produced with the United States Atomic Energy Commission. This unusual collaboration highlights the industrial interests of the era, specifically the Bentonite Pits Area in the northeast. The landscape is defined by a sparse ranching economy where named homesteads like Budmayer Ranch, Lighter Ranch, and Heetland Ranch serve as the primary landmarks across the rolling terrain.