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1953 Map of Hadley

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Hadley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Old Fort Bent (Ruins) and its surrounding history anchor this survey of the High Plains, where the Arkansas River corridor serves as the primary artery for settlement and infrastructure. The landscape is defined by an extensive network of water management systems, including the Fort Lyon Canal, Lewis Lateral, and various flumes and ditches that supported the agricultural economy of the mid-20th century.

Small rural hubs are visible at Hadley and Casa, supported by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. Local life is centered around institutions such as the East Holbrook Church, Fort Bent School, and a Cem located near the riverbank. This map captures the region just as modern irrigation and transport were fully integrating with the remnants of the Old Trail, documenting a vital link in the frontier history of Otero and Bent Counties.