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1970 Map of Sanford Hills

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Sanford Hills
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Sanford Hills of southern Colorado dominate this 1970s landscape, straddling the boundary between Pueblo Co and Las Animas Co. This is a terrain defined by its water management and ranching operations, where named outposts like Black Ranch, Jacobs Ranch, and Lou Nelson Ranch sit among a complex network of seasonal drainages. Significant erosion patterns are evident in the winding courses of Saunders Arroyo, Twomile Arroyo, and Buffalo Arroyo, which cut through the high ground of Blue Ridge and Iron Ridge.

Evidence of historical land use is found in the numerous windmills and wells, such as the Fox Windmill and Linnard Well, which sustained livestock in this arid environment. Collectors and genealogists may note the small Cem located near the Apishapa River in the southeast corner. The presence of several reservoirs, including Rock Dam Reservoir and Mobley Reservoir, alongside natural sources like Lily Pond Spring, highlights the critical importance of water rights and ranching infrastructure in this part of the state.