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1912 Map of Thibedeau Lake

Name: 1912 Topographic Map of Thibedeau Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1912
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1912

About this map

Fort Assinniboine and the early rail hub of Havre anchor the southern reaches of this 1909 survey, reflecting the military and transportation infrastructure that defined northern Montana at the turn of the century. The Great Northern railroad tracks parallel the Milk River, connecting a string of small stations and settlements including Pacific Junction, Burnham, and Toledo. This rail-and-river corridor contrasts sharply with the expansive ranching country to the north, where the landscape is defined by isolated family operations such as Lohman's Ranch, McLain Ranch, and Merriett Ranch.

The northern terrain is a complex network of coulees and prairie lakes, most notably Thibedeau Lake and Mud Lake. The map details the international border at the United States Canada Boundary Line, where the West Fork Milk River crosses into Montana. Topographical features like Saddle Butte, Black Butte, and Squaw Butte serve as prominent landmarks for researchers tracing early twentieth-century land claims and the development of Chouteau County.