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1953 Map of Cheraw

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Cheraw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Arkansas River valley defines this irrigation-driven landscape, where a sophisticated network of canals and reservoirs supports the agricultural economy of Otero County. Centered on the town of Cheraw, the map illustrates a terrain marked by water management features like the Fort Lyon Storage Canal, Lake Canal, and the expansive Holbrook Reservoir. These systems were vital for local industry, most notably the Sugar Refinery located near the riverbank.

Settlement patterns follow the water and rail corridors, with La Junta Village, La Junta Gardens, and North La Junta clustering near the southern bend of the river. The La Junta Municipal Airport and the prominent Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line highlight the area's role as a regional transportation hub. For genealogists, the Holbrook Cemetery and small communities such as Orr, Randall, and Shelton provide specific points of interest for tracing family roots in this rural high-plains environment.