1954 Map of Hanover

About this map

The high plains south of Colorado Springs are defined here by a network of ranching operations and water management along Chico Creek. These mid-century landscapes were mapped in 1952 and field-checked in 1954, capturing a pastoral era when family-named properties like Reble Ranch, Appelt Jr Ranch, and Finch Ranch anchored the rural economy. Settlement is concentrated along Hanover Road, where community life centered on the Hanover Sch, Hanover Ch, and the nearby Hanover Cem. The reliance on water in this semi-arid region is evident through the engineered Hanover Ditch, the Smith Reservoir, and numerous windmills scattered across the township lines. A small Airstrip and several miles of Jeep Trails provide a look at the remote transportation methods used by ranchers and land managers as the El Paso and Pueblo county line was surveyed.