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1959 Map of Horsethief Draw

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Horsethief Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The High Plains of western Kansas are defined here by a network of seasonal watercourses and draws that feed into the Smoky Hill River system. This mid-century landscape shows a rural environment where essential community nodes like the Sandy Hill Sch and Fairview Cem serve a sparsely populated ranching and farming district. The topography is surprisingly complex for the plains, featuring the Sandy Hill prominence and geological landmarks like Horsethief Cave, which overlook the winding paths of Turtle Creek and Meyers Draw.

Tracing the drainage patterns reveals the distinct forks of Lake Creek, including the Middle Fork Lake Creek and South Fork Lake Creek. These draws, along with features like Salt Grass Canyon and Big Lagoon, illustrate how water shaped the settlement patterns and property lines across the Sherman and Wallace County line. The presence of a local Gravel Pit near the river suggests small-scale industrial activity supporting the local road network.