Loading map...

1959 Map of Horsethief Draw

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Horsethief Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Smoky Hill River and its various tributaries define this Western Kansas landscape, where the high plains are carved by an intricate network of draws and creeks. This late 1950s survey documents a rural environment centered on the convergence of the North Fork Smoky Hill River and other drainage systems like Horsethief Draw and Armstrong Draw. These seasonal watercourses dictate the placement of human activity, such as the Gravel Pit near the river’s north fork.

Local landmarks provide essential points of orientation for genealogists and researchers, including the Sandy Hill Sch and prominent burial grounds like Fairview Cem and McKinley Cem. The terrain reveals notable natural features such as Horsethief Cave and Big Lagoon, while the southern reaches of the map transition into the breaks of Salt Grass Canyon. The survey illustrates the section-line road system that organizes this agricultural region along the border of Sharon Springs and Morton.