1953 Map of Watford City

About this map

The Missouri River and the newly formed Garrison Reservoir dominate this mid-century western North Dakota landscape, showing the dramatic transformation of the Missouri River Basin during the Garrison Dam era. The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation is central to the sheet, with several Indian Service Headquarters segments mapped as the reservoir flooded tribal lands. Extensive badlands terrain is visible along the Little Missouri River, anchored by the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park (North Unit) and the Petrified Forest. This era shows Watford City as a regional hub, connected by the Great Northern railroad which runs through Alexander and Rawson. Further south, the Killdeer Mountains and the Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge mark a shift into the ranching country of Dunn County and Billings County.