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1951 Map of Dead Horse Springs

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Dead Horse Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Dead Horse Springs and the winding Dead Horse Draw define this high plains landscape on the Colorado border of Morgan and Weld counties. Surveyed in the early 1950s, the map reveals a remote pastoral territory where water management is the primary driver of development. The southern corner is marked by significant irrigation infrastructure, including the Riverside Canal and the Riverside Ditch, which support the agricultural life of the region. Scattered throughout the townships are numerous Windmills, indicating a reliance on groundwater for livestock across the undulating terrain.

Evidence of rural community life appears at Victory School, a local landmark for families in this corner of the Missouri River Basin. The presence of a Television Relay Station and the VABM Barker 4630 survey point highlight the importance of high-ground landmarks for communication and mapping. This map serves as a detailed record of mid-century ranching life, showing the distribution of water sources and school districts before further consolidation changed the local landscape.