2018 Map of White Butte West

About this map

White Butte rises as a prominent landmark in this corner of Hettinger County, marking the high ground above the drainage basins of Thirtymile Cr and Plum Cr. The landscape is defined by the rigid grid of the Public Land Survey System, where section lines are traced by rural routes like 97 Ave SW and 55 St SW. At the center of the local community landscape sits Saint Michaels Cem, located along St Michael's Rd just south of Bull Butte. This 2018 survey captures the characteristic wide-open ranching or farming layout of southwestern North Dakota, where isolated buttes and small creek branches provide the only relief to the geometric precision of the township roads. The map detail highlights the sparse settlement patterns, recording the names of local watercourses and landforms that have guided travelers and residents through the high plains for generations.