2010 Map of Sand Creek

About this map

Sand Creek winds through the heart of this western Kansas landscape, defining a drainage pattern characterized by intermittent waterways and broad, open terrain. In this portion of Hamilton County, the map reveals a strictly regulated grid of section lines and rural thoroughfares, such as Co Rd 13 and Co Rd 16, which anchor the agricultural landscape. The lack of concentrated settlements highlights the expansive, rural nature of the region during this era. To the northeast, Shirley Creek cuts across the plains, while Syracuse Creek appears in the southwestern corner, showing the natural flow toward the Arkansas River basin south of this quadrangle. This 2010 digital survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents the precise placement of county roads like Rd U and Rd 19, providing a baseline for understanding the sparse infrastructure and land divisions in the high plains of the twenty-first century.