1893 Map of Sanborn

About this map

High plains cattle ranching and early settlement define this 1880s landscape across the borders of Lincoln, Elbert, and Otero counties. Surveyed by Willard D. Johnson and J. W. Hays, the map illustrates a sparsely populated territory where the primary landmarks are named homesteads and riparian corridors. Major watercourses like Horse Creek and its tributaries, including Little Horse Creek and Steel Fork, carve out the topography of the region, providing vital water for large operations like the Maryland Cattle Co Ranch and the Russell Ranch. The map captures the small hub of Sanborn at a time when the Western ranching economy was the primary driver of development. Notable landmarks such as Rocky Point and various unnamed ranch sites scattered near Rush Creek offer specific data points for genealogists and researchers tracing the history of open-range land use before more dense settlement occurred.