1893 Map of Las Animas

About this map

The Arkansas River corridor serves as the primary artery of development in this late 19th-century survey of southeastern Colorado. This area, spanning portions of Bent, Kiowa, and Otero counties, is defined by the convergence of major transit routes and natural waterways. The southern valley is dominated by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, connecting the regional hub of Las Animas with Fort Lyon and Robinson. To the north, the Missouri Pacific Railroad cuts across the high plains, facilitating the growth of rail-stop settlements like Arlington, Haswell, and Kilburn. The map captures the reliance of these early settlements on water sources like the Purgatoire River and Adobe Creek, illustrating a landscape where transportation infrastructure was beginning to bridge the gaps between isolated prairie outposts and the established river valley communities.