1969 Map of Noonen Reservoir SW

About this map

East Bijou Creek and its associated tributaries carve through this high plains landscape at the border of Arapahoe and Elbert counties. In the late 1960s, the southwestern corner of the quadrangle is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the Union Pacific railroad, which runs parallel to the creek bed. This transit corridor stands in contrast to the sparsely settled interior, where the land is marked by natural landmarks like Lowland and Badger. The map reveals an economy of resource extraction and ranching, evidenced by the scattered distribution of a Gravel Pit, an Oil Well, and various water wells. These small-scale industrial marks, alongside drainage systems like First Creek and Muddy Creek, provide a clear picture of how water and rail shaped land use in this open Colorado territory.