1960 Map of Buckeye

About this map

Buckeye and the surrounding Larimer County ranch lands are defined by a complex network of 1960s-era water management systems designed to sustain agriculture in this high-plains environment. The landscape is crisscrossed by irrigation features such as the North Poudre Ditch, the Park Creek Lateral, and the Buckeye Lateral, which move water across the undulating terrain. To the north, the elevation rises toward Gilman Mountain, while the southern reaches are punctuated by substantial water storage sites including Reservoir No 15 and Boxelder Res No 1. Transport and transit history are visible in the path of the Union Pacific railroad and a distinct Old Railroad Grade that cuts through the center of the sheet near Ripple. This survey captures a specific moment in the mid-century development of the Missouri River Basin, where infrastructure like Wellington drainage and numerous ditches illustrate the region's reliance on engineered waterways.