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1963 Map of Black Hills

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Black Hills
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Mining operations and former settlement sites dominate this high-plains landscape near the Black Hills. In the early 1960s, the remnants of coal extraction are visible through numerous features such as the Shamrock Mine, Kepler Mine, and the Turner Mine located near Bells Gap. The decline of once-active company towns is evident in labels for Tioga (Site), Delcarbon (Site), and Alamo (Site), while the community of Maitland remains established in the southern reaches.

Transport and irrigation networks provide the framework for the area's economy. The Colorado and Southern Railroad winds through the hills, servicing the mining district, while the northern territory is defined by the Huerfano River and an intricate system of ditches, including Mahan Ditch and Pino Ditch. These waterworks contrast with the dry drainages of Dog Springs Arroyo and Gordon Arroyo, illustrating the critical role of water management in this arid Huerfano County terrain.