1891 Map of Sanborn

About this map

The Maryland Cattle Co. Ranch and other isolated ranching outposts define this high plains landscape at the end of the nineteenth century. Surveyed in 1889, the map reveals a sparsely settled frontier where water sources dictate the placement of human activity. The drainage systems of Horse Creek and its tributaries, including Little Horse Creek and Steel Fork, are the primary landmarks for navigators and settlers alike. This survey shows the early administrative boundaries between Elbert, Lincoln, and Otero counties during a period when livestock was the dominant economic force. Beyond the small settlement at Sanborn, the map identifies specific family-held holdings like the Orcutt Ranch, Fody Ranch, and Russell Ranch, which serve as vital reference points for genealogists tracing the early homesteading and ranching families of eastern Colorado.