2011 Map of Threemile Buttes

About this map

Threemile Buttes dominate the high ground of this Powder River County landscape, serving as a landmark in a territory defined by a complex network of seasonal drainages and named springs. The map reveals a land utilized for ranching and resource extraction, anchored by the Sterling Mine to the south and the Samuelson Ranch to the north. Water management is central to life here, evidenced by numerous improved water sources including Old Faithful Spring, Sawmill Spring, and the Bowers Reservoir. The naming conventions of features like McLennon Spring Number One and Skinner Gulch Spring Number Two suggest a history of specific land claims and familial stakes. Transport is limited to rugged tracks and routes such as 15 Mile Rd, illustrating the isolation of this corner of Montana at the start of the 21st century.