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2012 Map of White River West

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of White River West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Ranching operations define this Mellette County landscape, where the Little White River and its tributaries carve through the plains. The spatial arrangement of family-held properties such as the Jensen Ranch, Stromer Ranch, and Lawrence Krogman Ranch illustrates a decentralized settlement pattern typical of South Dakota's modern grazing economy. Water remains the primary geographical anchor for these holdings, with Pine Cr and Dry Cr providing vital drainage across the terrain.

Two small burial grounds, Saint Ignatius Cem and Saint James Cem, serve as the primary markers of community life and local genealogy amidst the sprawling acreage. These sites, along with names like the Two Hawk Ranch and Risseeuw Ranch, reflect a heritage of long-term land stewardship. The map documents the enduring infrastructure of this rural region, from isolated ranch houses to the winding creek beds that dictate the local topography.