1893 Map of Big Springs

About this map

The High Plains of eastern Colorado appear here in a transition from open range to early ranching and settlement, based on an 1889 survey. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral drainage systems of the Arkansas River basin, including the expansive Black Squirrel Creek and Steel's Fork. At the center of the survey lies Big Springs, a critical water point in this semi-arid region. Isolated outposts such as Galloway Ranch and Hancock Ranch represent the sparse human footprint during the late nineteenth century, while Crows Roost and the small settlement of Holtwold serve as early markers of habitation in what were then the expansive borderlands of El Paso, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. The topographical work by Willard D. Johnson captures the subtle elevations of the Holcolm Hills and the winding course of Pond Creek, documenting the area before more intensive agricultural development arrived.