1969 Map of Burlington 3 SW

About this map

The high plains along the boundary of Kit Carson Co Cheyenne Co are defined by a sparse network of intermittent watercourses and isolated ranching outposts. The North Fork Smoky Hill River meanders across the northern portion of the quadrangle, joined by tributaries such as Cow Creek and Rock Creek. This 1969 field-checked survey reveals a landscape largely dedicated to livestock, centered on isolated holdings like Windmill Ranch. The terrain is marked by numerous scattered wells, indicating the critical importance of groundwater for sustaining the agricultural economy in this arid stretch of eastern Colorado. The map documents the grid of section lines and boundary fences that imposed order on the prairie just before the era of widespread pivot irrigation altered the rural aesthetic.