1963 Map of Ritter Arroyo

About this map

The Cucharas River valley serves as the primary corridor for movement and settlement in this Huerfano County landscape. The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks parallel the river, connecting the outlying ranchlands to the regional infrastructure. This 1963 survey (with 1982 revisions) captures important genealogical sites, including the Old La Veta Cem and the La Veta Cem to the south, as well as the Chavez Cem near Chavez Arroyo. Water management is central to the area's development, evidenced by the Lake Meriam Ditch and numerous reservoirs like Daigre Res and Wahatoya Lake Reservoir. The rural educational landscape is marked by the presence of the Ritter Sch, which stood near the convergence of the valley and the surrounding high ground of Pinon Hill.