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1953 Map of Kreybill

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Kreybill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The John Martin Reservoir dominates the landscape of this portion of Bent County, representing a mid-century transformation of the Arkansas River valley. Along the northern shoreline and bluffs, the historical record is deeply layered, showing the Old Santa Fe Trail passing near markers for Old Fort Lyon and Fort Bent. These landmarks signify the area's importance as a nineteenth-century corridor for western expansion and military presence.

Agricultural and transport networks are centered around the small settlement of Kreybill, which features the Kreybill Sch and sits along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. The map illustrates an extensive irrigation system essential to the high plains, including the Fort Lyon Canal and Kicking Bird Canal, which divert water to local farms. Farther south, the terrain becomes more dissected by drainage systems like Rule Creek and Gageby Creek, leading away from the reservoir's edge.