1979 Map of Sugarloaf

About this map

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks slice across the heart of this landscape, marking the industrial connectivity of the High Plains in the late 1970s. The terrain is defined by the deep incisions of Bluff Creek, which meanders through the northeast and southeast corners, creating a stark contrast to the surrounding upland flats. This survey documents the energy and extractive footprint of the era, notably the presence of the Sitka Gas Field and scattered industrial markers like a Drill Hole and a Sandpit. The boundary between Clark and Comanche counties runs vertically through the eastern half of the sheet, while the name Protection appears as a large regional label in the east, reflecting the proximity of local centers. It is a snapshot of Kansas rangeland where resource extraction and rail transport have long shaped the local economy.