Loading map...

1958 Map of Beckwith Mountain

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Beckwith Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Wet Mountain Valley dominates this landscape, showing a complex network of agricultural irrigation and high-altitude ranching during the late 1950s. The settlement of Ula and the nearby Ula Cem represent early Custer County history, situated where the Prairie meets the rising slopes of Beckwith Mountain. Water management is central to the area's development, evidenced by extensive engineering such as the James Jarvis Swift Creek Ditch No 3 and the Ula Ditch, which divert Swift Creek to support valley floor operations.

Industrial and transit history is visible through the Old Railroad Grade and a localized Strip Mine. To the west, the boundary of the San Isabel National Forest marks a transition from the valley floor to the foothills, where smaller enclaves like The Pines and landmarks like Cress Field are located. This survey effectively documents the intersection of natural hydrology and man-made water systems in the Colorado high country.