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1956 Map of Wakpala SW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Wakpala SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Standing Rock Indian Reservation covers the entirety of this landscape in Corson County, where the high plains terrain is defined by the prominent elevation of Skull Peak. The southern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the massive Ridgeland plateau, a topographical feature that overlooks the winding course of Snake Creek as it cuts through the valley floor. This 1956 survey, updated with 1970s aerial data, provides a clear view of the infrastructure supporting the region's connectivity during the mid-20th century.

The steel tracks of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad traverse the southern half of the map, following the natural drainage of the creek bed. To the north, the drainage of Deep Bank Creek carves further into the reservation's geography. The map reflects a sparsely settled area where the movement of goods and people was tied closely to the transcontinental rail line and the challenging elevations of the Great Plains.