1894 Map of Cheyenne Wells

About this map

Cheyenne Wells and Arapahoe sit as vital outposts in the High Plains during the late nineteenth century, defined by the path of the Union Pacific Railroad. This survey, conducted just years after the frontier era, captures a landscape of intermittent watercourses like Ladder Creek and Smoky Creek that dictate the region's topography and settlement patterns. The map clearly delineates the Colorado Kansas Boundary Line, marking the transition from Cheyenne and Kiowa counties into Wallace and Greeley counties to the east. Further south, the remote Water Valley is noted near the headwaters of Big Sandy Creek, while the drainages of White Woman Creek stretch across the southern plains. The scarcity of named settlements highlights the importance of the rail line and these specific water sources for early cattle ranching and homesteading in this semi-arid environment.