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1972 Map of Central City

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Central City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Central City and the surrounding mining districts of the Front Range appear here in the early 1970s, showcasing a landscape deeply shaped by a century of extraction. The dense concentration of Mine and Prospects labels surrounding Nevadaville and Black Hawk illustrates the intensity of the gold and silver rush that once defined this region. Settlement patterns follow the narrow drainages of Chase Gulch and Eureka Gulch, where historical mining claims left a legacy of named hills such as Winnebago Hill, Bates Hill, and Gregory Hill.

The map reveals the transition from industrial dominance to recreational use within the Roosevelt National Forest and Arapaho National Forest. While former mining camps like Apex and Russell Gulch remain as focal points for genealogists, the rise of modern mountain access is evidenced by several Jeep Trail routes and developed sites like Pickle Gulch Campground. This 1972 survey also documents the persistent boundaries of the Gilpin Co and Clear Creek Co line as it traverses the high ridges.