1971 Map of North Rattlesnake Butte

About this map

North Rattlesnake Butte rises above a landscape defined by an intricate network of water management and cattle ranching infrastructure during the early 1970s. This Colorado territory, straddling the borders of Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties, is marked by numerous reservoirs and wells named for the families and operations that shaped this arid region. From the Machatten Wells in the north to the Dime Spring along the Hogback, the map reveals how water was captured and distributed through features like Hans Reservoir and Six Thousand Reservoir. The presence of the North Butte Sch and isolated points like Becker Well or Teeple Well suggests the sparse, resilient settlement pattern of the high plains before modernization consolidated many of these small-scale ranching improvements.