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1955 Map of Black Ridge

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Black Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Black Canyon of the Gunnison dominates this West Slope landscape, where the Gunnison River carves a deep path through the plateau country south of Hotchkiss. The 1950s topography reveals a complex network of ridgelines and water management systems, including the Scenic Mesa Ditch and Fruitland Mesa Ditch, which were essential for bringing water to high agricultural benches. On Fruitland Mesa, the land is marked by small-scale irrigation and a Landing Strip, while the surrounding terrain is deeply dissected by drainage systems like Long Gulch and Red Canyon.

The boundary between Delta and Montrose counties crosses the rugged slopes of Black Ridge and Buttermilk Ridge. Local place names like Pitts Meadow, Pleasant Park, and Lime Kiln Gulch suggest a history of grazing and early resource extraction. The presence of the Green Mountain Reservoir No 1 and numerous Jeep Trails indicates a landscape transitioning from remote ranching territory to one increasingly accessed for water storage and recreation by the mid-20th century.