1979 Map of Bellyache Creek

About this map

Kit Carson Co and Cheyenne Co meet along a straight surveyor's line in this high plains landscape of eastern Colorado. The terrain is defined by the intermittent drainage patterns of Sand Creek and the East Branch Bellyache Creek, which carve subtle paths through the sections. This 1970s survey captures a working landscape where water is the primary concern for local inhabitants, marked by isolated infrastructure like a Well and a Tank on the arid range. The presence of Spring Creek and various Springs suggests the vital importance of natural water sources for ranching operations in this sparsely populated region. Detailed fence lines and elevation contours reveal the fine-scale management of the open country before modern development changed the character of the borderlands.