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1953 Map of Las Animas

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Las Animas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Las Animas serves as the focal point of this mid-century landscape, situated near the confluence where the Purgatoire River joins the Arkansas River. The map highlights a significant intersection of historical and modern transportation, showing the Old Santa Fe Trail running parallel to the active Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. To the east, the sprawling grounds of the Fort Lyon Veterans Hospital sit adjacent to the John Martin Reservoir, marking a period of significant institutional presence in Bent County.

Rural infrastructure is well-defined by an extensive network of irrigation systems like the Fort Lyon Canal and Consolidated Ditch, which supported local agriculture. Genealogists will find particular value in the locations of the Las Animas Cemetery and Fort Lyon Cemetery, as well as the historic site of Boggsville, providing a clear view of the area's early settlement patterns and social centers.