Loading map...

1978 Map of Aroya

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

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Big Sandy Creek meanders through the northern plains of the High Plains, defining the landscape of this 1970s survey. The tiny settlement of Aroya sits at the junction of the Union Pacific railroad and the drainage of Aroya Gulch, serving as a remote outpost in a region dominated by large-scale ranching operations. The spatial distribution of infrastructure, from the Landing Strip at Rush Creek Ranch to the J.O.D. Ranch further east, highlights the necessity of private aviation and specialized transport in this sparsely populated cattle country.

Industrial activity is noted by several Gravel Pits and a prominent Pipeline cutting across the terrain. The presence of a small Cem near the railroad tracks and various wells and water tanks underscores the fundamental challenges of water management and permanent settlement along the Lincoln Co Cheyenne Co boundary. This map provides a detailed view of eastern Colorado's ranching economy before modern consolidation altered many of these historic family holdings.