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1958 Map of Sterling

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Sterling
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The South Platte River valley defines the economic and geographic heart of this mid-century landscape, acting as a corridor for both water and transport through Northeastern Colorado. An intricate system of irrigation, including the Pawnee Ditch, Lowline Ditch, and Sand Hill Ditch, draws from the river to support agriculture across Jones Flat and the surrounding plains. These water rights were vital to the growth of hubs like Sterling, Fort Morgan, and Brush, which served as critical shipping points along the Union Pacific and Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads.

Beyond the river bottom, the terrain transitions into the Pawnee Hills and the extensive Sand Hills to the southeast. Isolated settlements such as New Raymer and Buckingham stand as outposts on the high prairie. The map captures a high-water mark for rural infrastructure, showing numerous reservoirs like Sterling Reservoir and Prewitt Reservoir that transformed the semi-arid environment into a productive ranching and farming region.