1969 Map of Mount Sunflower

About this map

Mount Sunflower, the highest natural point in Kansas, anchors this High Plains landscape as it appeared in the late 1960s. Located precisely on the Colorado-Kansas state line, the area is defined by the ephemeral drainage patterns of Goose Creek and Turtle Creek. The map documents a sparse, agricultural infrastructure characterized by an extensive network of isolated water Wells and unimproved roads that serve this remote border region. Evidence of early settlement is seen at Hitchcock in the western portion of the quadrangle. The intersection of Cheyenne County, Wallace County, and Kit Carson County creates a complex boundary junction, illustrating how political lines were surveyed across the open prairie. This edition reflects the land before modern center-pivot irrigation significantly altered the surface topography of the western plains.