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1952 Map of Carlton

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Carlton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Arkansas River valley serves as the central artery for this portion of Prowers County, where complex irrigation systems support agricultural life in a semi-arid landscape. Engineering works such as the Marvel Canal, Lamar Canal, and Vista Del Rio Ditch weave across the terrain, drawing water to support operations like Center Farm. The transportation corridor is dominated by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which parallels the river and links small settlements like Grote and Goodale.

Evidence of deeper history is preserved along the northern bank, where a Historical Marker denotes the Old Santa Fe Trail. This historic route predates the rail lines that later defined the regional economy. Local education and civic life are anchored at the Carlton Post Office and nearby Carlton School, while the southern landscape transitions into the drainage of Smith Arroyo and Long Hollow, dotted with numerous windmills essential for cattle ranching.