Loading map...

1942 Map of Black Hawk

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Black Hawk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The mountain towns of Black Hawk and Central City anchor this 1942 survey, showing the historic mining landscape of Gilpin and Jefferson counties during the early war years. The area is defined by a dense network of gulches and ridges that dictated settlement patterns, including Russell Gulch and Chase Gulch. While the core towns show concentrated development, the surrounding mountainsides are dotted with legacy sites like the Summit Mine and the Mountain House Sch.

Transport and land use are centered on the Golden Gate Canyon Road and the drainage basins of North Clear Creek and Ralston Creek. The map details many family and locally named landmarks, such as Junction Ranch, Dory Hill, and Smith Hill, alongside institutional boundaries for the Roosevelt National Forest and Arapaho National Forest. This record captures the transition from a purely extractive economy to one increasingly managed by public agencies.