1970 Map of Matheson SE

About this map

North Rush Creek and Middle Rush Creek carve deep, branching drainage patterns across this high plains landscape on the eastern edge of Elbert County. The 1970 field check reveals a terrain primarily defined by its hydrology and sparse ranching infrastructure, including several mapped Wells and benchmark stations like WM 5648. The convergence of these seasonal waterways, including the smaller tributary of Apache Creek, suggests a landscape shaped by intermittent runoff typical of the Colorado prairie. Local land use is evidenced by fine dashed lines representing property fence lines, which delineate the large open sections of the township grid. For researchers, this survey provides a precise look at the rural hydrology and land boundaries before late 20th-century shifts in agricultural management.