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1897 Map of Apishapa

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Apishapa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR tracks cut through the southeastern corner of this high-plains landscape, anchoring the settlements of Thatcher and Delhi during the late nineteenth century. The Apishapa River carves a deep, winding course through the center of the sheet, joined by a complex network of arroyos and canyons like Mustang Arroyo and Bass Canyon. This drainage pattern defined the locations of numerous early homesteads and livestock operations, including the Mc Daniel Ranch and Reynolds Ranch.

Remote trails and early wagon routes, such as the Buffalo Trail and the Walsenburg Fowler Road, connect the scattered water sources and topographical landmarks. Prominent features like the Rattlesnake Buttes and Blue Hill served as vital navigational markers for travelers moving between the river valleys. The map documents a period when the economy of Las Animas and Pueblo counties relied heavily on the proximity of ranches to reliable springs like Beardsley Spring and Dripping Spring.