1974 Map of Orion SW

About this map

The Butterfield Trail cuts through the southern half of this Gove County landscape, marking the historic path of the Butterfield Overland Despatch. The terrain is defined by the drainage systems of the Smoky Hill River and its northern tributaries, including Plum Creek and Hell Cr. This 1974 survey shows a largely undeveloped prairie environment where human activity is limited to a few resource-driven sites like a Quarry and a Sandpit. Evidence of early pioneer passage or isolated homesteading is found in the simple Grave noted in the western section of the map. The topography rises toward the Lewis township area, providing a clear view of the drainage patterns and the approximate historical route that once connected the central plains to the western frontier.