1971 Map of Aguilar

About this map

Aguilar sits at the base of the foothills where the Apishapa River emerges from the high country, serving as a focal point for the coal mining and ranching economy of early 1970s Las Animas County. The map documents an extensive history of resource extraction, from the Black Hawk Mine in the north to the Gem Mine and Prosperity Mine No 2 near the river. While Aguilar remains a primary settlement with its central St Anthony Ch, other locations such as Rouse (Site) represent the shifting footprint of industrial activity over time. The transportation network is defined by the Colorado and Southern railroad and various jeep trails that penetrate the complex topography of Gonzales Canyon and Fourmile Canyon. From the high plateau of Big Flat to the lowland settlements of Rugby and Lynn, this survey captures the intersection of natural drainage and human industry.