1953 Map of Kreybill

About this map

The John Martin Reservoir dominates this landscape in Bent County, Colorado, where the waters of the Arkansas River valley meet a deep history of western expansion. This 1953 survey captures the terrain as it transitioned from a historical travel corridor to a managed water resource. The Old Santa Fe Trail cuts across the northern plains, marked by several significant historical sites including Old Fort Lyon (Historical Marker) and Fort Bent (Historical Marker). These landmarks provide tangible connection points to the frontier era, while the nearby Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and the small settlement of Kreybill represent the agricultural and transport infrastructure of the mid-20th century. Local schooling was anchored by the Kreybill Sch, serving a rural population that relied on water management features like the Kicking Bird Canal and numerous drainage systems including Gageby Creek and Rule Creek.