1959 Map of Volunteer NW

About this map

Eightmile Creek and Mud Creek carve through the high plains of Butte County in this late 1950s study. The landscape is defined by the open drainage basins of these prairie waterways, which were surveyed just before significant changes in regional land management. The presence of the Willow Creek Lateral in the southwest corner indicates the expansion of local irrigation efforts, providing water to a region historically dominated by ranching. Fourmile Creek meanders across the central sections, reflecting the intricate natural hydrology of the western South Dakota rangeland. This survey captures a moment of transition for the Butte County landscape, where natural water courses began to be supplemented by human-engineered water management systems to support agricultural development.