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1989 Map of Twin Bridges SW

Name: 1989 Topographic Map of Twin Bridges SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Mining and ranching geography define this Madison County landscape as it appeared in the late 1980s. High-elevation extraction sites like the Elgin Mine and Eclipse Mine are situated among a dense network of prospects and shafts, illustrating the region's enduring mineral interest. To the south, the topography descends into the complex riparian environment of the Big Hole River, where the Third Slough and Owlsley Slough create a braided waterway system essential for local irrigation.

Evidence of early community infrastructure is found at the Pageville School and the nearby Schoolhouse Ditch, marking the transition from the high-desert mining terrain to the agricultural valley floor. Transportation through this varied terrain is facilitated by the Burma Road, while drainage is dominated by the westward flows of Cottonwood Creek, Rochester Creek, and Nez Perce Creek, which cut through the ridges toward the river bottom.