1951 Map of Keenesburg

About this map

The high plains of Colorado in the early 1950s reveal a landscape defined by an intricate network of irrigation, centered on the settlement of Keenesburg. This agricultural infrastructure is anchored by a series of significant water storage projects, including the Horse Creek Reservoir, Prospect Reservoir, and Lott Reservoir, along with numerous private holdings such as the Ireland Res No One series and De Remer Lakes. The transit of water is managed through a complex system of named ditches and flumes, like the Denver Hudson Canal and the Quincy Canal, which carve through the drainages of Box Elder Creek and Horse Creek. The Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad line provides the primary industrial backbone for the region, running parallel to the Burlington No 2 Lateral as it passes through the heart of the town. This survey illustrates the intensive engineering required to sustain homesteads and ranching in a semi-arid environment, marked by numerous wells and windmills across the Weld and Adams County line.