Loading map...

1963 Map of Altvan

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Altvan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The high plains of the Laramie Co Weld Co borderlands are defined by an intricate network of irrigation and livestock infrastructure in this 1963 survey. Situated near the settlement of Altvan, the landscape is etched with historical water management features like Stewart Ditch and Kingman Ditch, which redirect the flow of Crow Creek and Little Simpson Creek toward ranching operations. The topography is dotted with numerous named windmills, including Century Windmill, Heifer Pasture Windmill, and Bedortha Windmill, highlighting the critical importance of groundwater for this arid region.

Transportation through the area is anchored by the Burlington Northern railroad, which runs parallel to the creek systems in the northern portion of the quadrangle. Large-scale ranching interests are evident at the Wyo Hereford Ranch Res No 1 and its sister reservoir, while terrain features like Porter Draw and Bull Canyon provide natural relief to the open country. The mapping of specific fence lines and corrals provides a distinct record of land use and property boundaries during the mid-20th century.