1953 Map of Cheraw

About this map

The Arkansas River serves as the focal point of this irrigation-dependent landscape, where a sophisticated network of water engineering supports agriculture in the high plains. The Fort Lyon Canal and Fort Lyon Storage Canal move water across the terrain to fill substantial basins like Holbrook Reservoir and Cheraw Lake. This 1953 survey captures the area's mid-century industrial and residential footprint, including the Sugar Refinery near the river and the development of La Junta Village and La Junta Gardens. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor remains the primary transport spine, connecting the village of Cheraw with the larger regional hubs. Geographers and local historians will find the detailed footprint of the La Junta Municipal Airport and the placement of the Holbrook Cemetery particularly valuable for tracing the physical evolution of Otero County.