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2013 Map of Cheraw

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Cheraw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The Arkansas River winds through the southern edge of this Otero County landscape, anchoring a complex network of irrigation and water management essential to this high plains region. Large-scale water features like the Holbrook Reservoir, Cheraw Lake, and the Fort Lyon Storage Canal dominate the terrain, illustrating the sophisticated hydraulic engineering required for the area's agricultural development. The map details a series of distinct communities radiating from the regional hub, including La Junta Village, La Junta Gardens, and North La Junta, each positioned along the transition from the river valley to the upland plains.

Rural life is marked by small settlements such as Randall, Shelton, and Cheraw, while the Holbrook Cem provides a point of genealogical interest. Transport and infrastructure are represented by the La Junta Municipal Airport and the grid of county roads that organize the landscape. From the flow of the Crooked Arroyo to the precision of the Wasson Lateral, the map documents the intentional shaping of the land to manage water in a semiarid environment.