1894 Map of Timpas

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad cuts a diagonal path through this 1880s landscape, tracing the vital transit corridor between La Junta and the high plains. This survey illustrates a pivotal era in Colorado's development, where the ancient Santa Fe Trail and the burgeoning iron rail shared the drainage of Timpas Creek. To the south, the terrain breaks into a complex system of deep incisions carved by the Purgatoire River, including Bent Canyon and Minnie Canyon. Sparse outposts like Benton, Iron Springs, and Taylor Ranch mark the early ranching and railroad infrastructure that defined these counties. The map provides a clear view of the contrast between the open valley of the Arkansas River and the broken, high-altitude terrain of the Black Hills.