1970 Map of Bijou Basin

About this map

Bijou Basin defines this high plains landscape at the border of Elbert and El Paso counties, characterized by the drainage networks of Comanche Creek and West Bijou Creek. The map documents a rural ranching and resource-extraction environment in the late 1960s, featuring scattered infrastructure such as an Oil Well, a Drill Hole, and a Gravel Pit. For those tracing local history, the Bijou Basin Cem stands as a significant landmark in the southwestern portion of the quadrangle. The topography is marked by distinct rises like the Knob, providing a clear view of how watercourses shaped the early settlement patterns and land use in this part of Colorado. The presence of numerous wells across the terrain underscores the critical importance of water management in this arid cattle-country region.