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2019 Map of Rocky Ford

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Rocky Ford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

The Arkansas River forms the central artery of this Otero County landscape, where an intricate web of irrigation infrastructure defines the local geography. Significant waterways including the Fort Lyon Storage Canal, Rocky Ford Highline Canal, and Catlin Canal illustrate the engineering required to support the region’s agricultural identity. These canals wrap around the settlements of Rocky Ford and Swink, providing the lifeblood for named areas such as Melon Field and Cottonwood Field.

Genealogists and local historians can locate community landmarks like Valley View Cem and Hillcrest Cem situated just south of the main town center. The map also records the rural grid system and smaller drainage features like Timpas Cr and the Jackson Lateral. The transition from the river valley to the higher plains is marked by the border between Otero Co and Crowley Co to the north, showing how the land use shifts away from the concentrated canal network.