1971 Map of South Rattlesnake Butte

About this map

The arid ranching landscape of the Colorado high plains is defined here by the drainage network of South Rattlesnake Canyon and Dripping Springs Canyon. This 1971 survey captures a remote section of the Huerfano Co Las Animas Co border, where water is the most critical resource for the scattered homesteads. The distribution of windmills such as the Cordova Windmill and Sanchez Windmill indicates a landscape primarily utilized for livestock grazing. The presence of the South Butte School near South Butte suggests a once-active rural community hub, while Summer Camp in the north and various water tanks across the plains mark the infrastructure of the early 1970s cattle industry. Topographic details highlight the transition from flat grasslands to the deep, winding cuts of Jones Lake Canyon.