1996 Map of Bloom

About this map

The Santa Fe National Historic Trail cuts through this high plains landscape, following the general path of Timpas Creek as it moves toward the settlement of Bloom. This 1996 revision of the topography captures a rural region dominated by the Comanche National Grassland, where water management defines the human footprint. A dense network of reservoirs, such as South Lambing Camp Reservoir, Danifer Reservoir, and Fultz Reservoir, supports the ranching economy across the Bloom Hills. Small markers of local history appear at Mindeman and the Graves near Iron Springs. The presence of numerous named windmills, including the Bloom Hill Windmill and Hedgecock Windmill, alongside remote Landing Strips, illustrates the isolation and specialized infrastructure required for life on these Colorado grasslands late in the twentieth century.