1891 Map of Arroyo

About this map

The Kansas Division Union Pacific Railroad cuts a diagonal path across the high plains of Eastern Colorado, anchoring the early transportation network of the late nineteenth century. Surveyed by Willard D. Johnson and J.W. Hays, this map reveals a landscape defined by water scarcity and ranching life. Key hubs like Bovero and Arroyo dot the rail line, while the surrounding territory is marked by isolated outposts such as Cox Ranch, Sheep Ranch, and Mosley Ranch. The terrain shifts from the prominent Sand Hills and Buffalo Basin in the north to the expansive Salt Wells Flat in the south. Drainages like Big Sandy Creek and Rush Creek carve through the dry environment, providing vital corridors for movement between the county lines of Lincoln, Cheyenne, and Kiowa.