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1965 Map of Bowie

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Bowie
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The North Fork Gunnison River carves a path through this section of Delta County, where the industrial landscape of the mid-1960s meets the high country of the Gunnison National Forest. The settlement of Bowie and nearby Juanita Junction serve as focal points for local coal operations, connected to the wider world by the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. Heavy industry is etched into the terrain through the presence of the Bowie Mine, Farmers Mine, and Converse Mine, illustrating the vital role of resource extraction in this canyon environment.

Upland from the river valley, the map reveals a network of high-altitude camps and water management systems. Features like Julian Ditch Camp, Morrell Cow Camp, and the Terror Creek Reservoir highlight the complex coordination of livestock grazing and irrigation that sustained the region. From the heights of Jumbo Mountain to the depths of Stevens Gulch, the topography is crisscrossed by a mix of jeep trails and pack trails, marking a landscape utilized for both work and passage.