1955 Map of La Junta

About this map

The Arkansas River corridor and its surrounding high plains define this mid-century landscape where southeastern Colorado meets Kansas. Centered on the transit hub of La Junta, the map illustrates a region driven by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific railroads, which facilitated the movement of goods and people across the vast shortgrass prairie. To the south, the terrain dramatically changes as it rises toward Mesa de Maya, Black Mesa, and Carrizo Mountain, revealing a complex system of canyons like Freezout Canyon. Small agricultural settlements and vital stops such as Lycan Post Office, Stonington, and Campo are scattered across the plains, while the presence of a Bomb target (abandoned) northwest of the Dixie Bluffs serves as a reminder of the era's mid-century military activity. Drainage patterns are meticulously detailed, showing how Two Butte Creek feeds into the Two Butte Reservoir, a critical water resource for the arid Prowers and Baca County region.