2009 Map of Horse Thief Canyon NE

About this map

The Pawnee River meanders across the northern plains of Hodgeman County, creating a distinctive hydrological network in this section of western Kansas. This 2009 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents a landscape defined by its drainages, where the main river is fed by several named tributaries including Hackberry Creek and Plum Creek. The terrain is characterized by the broad alluvial valleys of these waterways, which cut through the agricultural tablelands common to the region. In the southeast, Cottonwood Creek drains the local slopes, illustrating the complex watershed system that sustained early ranching and farming operations in the area. The map provides a precise layout of the section lines and local roads that follow the grid-based settlement patterns of the Great Plains, showing how modern infrastructure continues to respect the natural flow of these ancient prairie streams.