1960 Map of Zempel Lake

About this map

Great Porcupine Creek meanders through this section of Rosebud County, defining a landscape of drainage patterns and isolated cattle operations during the early 1960s. The area is characterized by a series of deep coulees that feed into the larger creek systems, such as Nelson Coulee and McGraw Coulee. These topographic features were critical for local ranchers, who relied on the scattered water sources and protected draws of the Missouri River Basin. Family operations are clearly marked, including the Johnson Ranch and Olson Ranch in the central valley, and the Richardson Ranch to the southwest. In the southeastern corner, Zempel Lake and the nearby Zempel Ranch represent a significant landmark in this high plains environment. The map details the transition between Blacktail Creek and West Blacktail Creek, showing the network of unimproved roads and trails that linked these remote homesteads.