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1906 Map of Blackhawk

Name: 1906 Topographic Map of Blackhawk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Blackhawk and the surrounding Front Range canyons define this 1904 survey, which reveals the dense network of ranches and mining camps established during Colorado's early mountain development. The map follows the steep transition from the foothills at Ralston Buttes into the high country, where the Colorado and Southern railroad serves the industrial heart of the district. The landscape is dotted with early mountain settlements and family-named landmarks like Pactolus, Rollinsville, and Magnolia, while isolated structures such as the Pine Glade School mark the community centers for remote ranching families.

The influence of the mining industry is evident at the Boundary Mine and throughout the rugged gulches, including Black Gulch and Lump Gulch. Transportation routes such as the Dory Hill Road and the Denver and Salt Lake railway negotiate the difficult terrain created by South Boulder Creek and the surrounding peaks. This study preserves the locations of early 20th-century holdings like the Drew Ranch and Skate Ranch before the modern expansion of the corridor.