1965 Map of Abbott NW

About this map

Beaubien and Maxwell land, part of the historic Maxwell Land Grant, dominates this high-altitude landscape of Colfax County. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage systems, most notably the winding course of the Rio del Plano, which cuts across the central portion of the quadrangle. In the northeast, Rondeau Creek flows through increasingly steep topography, while the southern reaches are marked by the seasonal drainage of Alkali Arroyo. This 1960s survey illustrates a region largely dedicated to open-range ranching, with very little human infrastructure beyond isolated survey markers and a single Drill Hole in the northwest, suggesting early mineral or geological exploration. The map captures a moment when the vast tracts of the original Spanish and Mexican land grants remained largely undivided by modern development, maintaining their expansive, open character.