1970 Map of Long Creek

About this map

The rolling plains of eastern Colorado are defined here by a network of ephemeral watercourses that converge along the boundary between Elbert Co and Lincoln Co. In this high-plains landscape, water is the primary architect of the terrain, with Long Creek carving a distinct valley as it trends toward the southeast. The map reveals a sparse, rural pattern of development characteristic of the era, where isolated wells and section lines dictate the human footprint. These survey lines often intersect the winding paths of North Rush Creek and Apache Creek, illustrating the challenges of land management in an arid environment. Near the center of the sheet, a solitary Gravel Pit indicates localized resource extraction, serving as a rare industrial marker in a region dominated by wide-open ranching and agricultural lands.