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1966 Map of Threemile Buttes

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Threemile Buttes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Custer National Forest dominates the southern half of this landscape, where the terrain transitions from rugged buttes into a network of drainage basins. The area's ranching and homesteading history is evidenced by numerous family-named water sources, such as Knudson Spring, McLennon Spring No 1, and Quebbeman Spring. These water points were critical for livestock in this arid portion of Powder River County, supporting the operations that once centered around landmarks like the Bottles Sch and Phillips Well.

Resource extraction and water management define the northern reaches, anchored by the Threemile Buttes and the industrial presence of the Sterling Mine. The drainage patterns of North Fork Threemile Creek and South Fork Threemile Creek dictate the local geography, leading toward man-made improvements such as the Ridenour Reservoir. This survey highlights the infrastructure of the mid-20th-century American West, where isolated springs like Old Faithful Spring and Sawmill Spring served as vital landmarks for navigation and land use.