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1893 Map of Catlin

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Catlin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1910
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1910

About this map

The high plains of Otero County appear here in their late 19th-century state, dominated by the parallel courses of the Arkansas River and the competing steel lines of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The settlement at Rocky Ford emerges as a primary center of activity along the river, while the Missouri Pacific Railroad cuts a straight path further north through the arid uplands, stopping at small sidings and outposts like Numa, Olney, and Meredith.

Away from the rail corridors, the landscape is defined by isolated ranching and herding camps such as Lone Tree Ranch and Sheep Camp. Landmarks like Antelope Springs and Big Sand Hill provided critical navigation points for travelers and stockmen across the plateau. The map also captures several smaller drainages, including the Apishapa River and Horse Creek, which were vital for the burgeoning agricultural and ranching economy of the region.