1949 Map of Poison Lake

About this map

Historical ranching operations and frontier-era sites define this mid-century survey of the high plains in Converse County. The land is shaped by the drainage of La Bonte Creek and its tributary, West Fork La Bonte Creek, which support established homesteads like the Nunn Ranch, Norton Ranch, and Willox Ranch. In the north, the map documents significant cultural markers of the Old West, including the Site of Old La Bonte Stage Station and the Site of Old Camp Marshall. These features, along with the White School, suggest a landscape where early pioneer infrastructure persisted alongside the evolving ranching economy. The high ground of Manning Ridge and peaks like VABM 5979 Mahogany overlook a network of irrigation ditches and seasonal water sources like Poison Lake.