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1967 Map of Round Butte

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Round Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Spottlewood Creek and Rawhide Creek carve through the high-plains landscape along the Colorado and Wyoming border in this late 1960s survey. The map reveals a specialized cattle-ranching or sheep-herding infrastructure, characterized by numerous named outposts such as Soapstone Camp, Brannigan Camp, and Graves Camp. This settlement pattern, consisting of isolated camps rather than formal townships, reflects the open-range heritage of the high desert plateau north of Fort Collins.

Industrial history is visible in the Old Railroad Grade traversing the eastern portion of the sheet, while water management is highlighted by the Round Butte Reservoirs and several Spring sites. Landforms like Round Butte and Gilman Mountain serve as primary landmarks for navigating the expansive Flats and deep drainages like Wire Draw. These features collectively document a landscape defined by seasonal use and the vital importance of water sources in an arid frontier.