1951 Map of Virginia

About this map

The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation landscape in the early 1950s is defined by the winding course of Virginia Creek as it carves through the undulating breaks of Dewey County. This survey reflects a period of infrastructure development for the Missouri River Basin, capturing the remote settlement of Virginia and its relationship to the local topography. A primary corridor of activity follows the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, which tracks along the creek valley, providing a vital transport link through this open country. Small-scale industrial traces, such as a Gravel Pit near the creek, signify the local materials used for maintaining the region's burgeoning road and rail network during this era of post-war western development.