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1953 Map of Watford City

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Watford City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Lake Sakakawea dominates the eastern half of this landscape, a massive reservoir created by the damming of the Missouri River. The waters reach deep into the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, altering the geography where the river once flowed freely near settlements like New Town. To the west, the badlands topography is preserved within the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park (North Unit) and its South Unit, featuring unique landmarks such as the Petrified Forest.

High plains and prominent buttes define the western reaches, where Watford City serves as a regional hub. The confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Missouri is visible near Buford, a key historical transit point. Transport across these expanses is marked by the Burlington Northern railroad, which links small agricultural communities like Alexander, Arnegard, and Killdeer. The southern portion of the map includes the Killdeer Mountains and the Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge, illustrating a varied environment of managed waters and prehistoric landforms.