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2013 Map of Hand Springs

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Hand Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Antelope Creek and its surrounding drainage systems define the high plains landscape of southern Bent County in this early 21st-century survey. The area is characterized by a sparse network of county roads, such as CO Road 23 and CO Road 28, that cross a terrain etched by seasonal water sources and named springs. These reliable water points, including Hand Springs, Santastevens Spring, and Medford Spring, represent the essential geography of this arid environment, likely serving as historic landmarks for ranching operations and early travelers.

Local landmarks such as the Antelope School and Bethel Cem indicate the centers of a dispersed rural community. The map provides a detailed view of the township and range boundaries, illustrating how the land was partitioned for settlement. Watercourses like West Mud Creek and the curiously named Little Angry Creek provide the primary topographic relief in a region where life was traditionally organized around the availability of water and the reach of the sectional road grid.