1893 Map of Higbee

About this map

The Purgatory River carves a winding path through the high plains of Southeast Colorado, defining the frontier character of this late nineteenth-century landscape. Based on surveys conducted in 1889, this document captures the sparse settlement patterns of the cattle-ranching era, anchored by the tiny community of Higbee and the notable J.J. Ranch. The terrain is dominated by a complex network of deep drainages including Smith Canyon, Eightmile Canyon, and Long Canyon, which provided critical shelter and water access in an otherwise arid environment.