The 6 by 6 townships that become Colburn were surveyed from 1847 into the early 1850s by crews working for the U.S. government.

In November 1849 a crew marked all the section corners of the 6 by 6 township that is now entirely within Colburn, walking the woods and swamps on foot, measuring with chain and compass.

[4][5] When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description: There is but little land fit for agricultural purposes in this Township.

There is Some good Pine in it – Considerable Hemlock and Fir, Birch, Sugar, Ash [?].

which it affords – The current is generally Swift, the bottom hard and the banks in many places sufficiently high and rocky.

20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.