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1972 Map of Rock Crossing

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Rock Crossing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Rock Crossing anchors this portion of the Las Animas County landscape, where the seasonal hydrology of the high plains is etched into the earth by intricate drainage systems. The terrain is defined by the winding paths of Big Water Arroyo, Taylor Arroyo, and Burke Arroyo, which cut through the topographical contours and suggest the natural corridors used for movement across this arid region.

Modern utility and transportation infrastructure intersect with these natural features, evidenced by a long Pipeline traversing the quadrangle and a remote Landing Strip in the southeastern corner. These markers, alongside a solitary Spring and various Well locations, highlight the essential relationship between water access and land use in eastern Colorado during the early 1970s. The map serves as a precise record of how surveyors tracked these vital resources and transit lines before subsequent decades of environmental change.