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1979 Map of Saunders

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Saunders
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The high plains borderland between Colorado and Kansas is defined here by the intersection of rail infrastructure and intermittent watercourses during the late 1970s. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts a diagonal line across the landscape, serving small trackside points like Saunders and Gano. This region, where Baca and Stanton counties meet, is characterized by a sparse settlement pattern that relies heavily on groundwater, indicated by the numerous wells scattered across the terrain.

Ephemeral drainage systems like Bear Creek and Sand Arroyo provide the primary geographical relief, winding through the plains toward Burchfield Lake in the south. For those tracing local history or family roots, the Konantz Cem stands as a significant landmark near the southern boundary, while the settlement of Westola marks the lower reaches of the quadrangle. The map captures a moment when the transition from Kansas into Colorado was marked primarily by these rail stops and the wide, open stretches of the Manter region.