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1956 Map of Cimarron

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Cimarron
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Gunnison River carves a dramatic course through the Black Canyon in this mid-century survey of Montrose County. The landscape is defined by its deep drainage networks and the stark elevation changes between the canyon floor and high features like Poverty Mesa and Black Mesa. In the valley, the settlement of Cimarron serves as a central hub for the surrounding ranching and forest lands, with infrastructure such as the Cimarron Ditch and Collier Ditch illustrating the complex water management required for high-altitude agriculture.

Local history is preserved in the remnants of earlier transportation and education, notably the Old Railroad Grade that snakes along the canyon walls and through the valley. To the south, the District No 9 Sch (Aband) stands as a marker of a once-active rural school district. Much of the eastern and northern terrain falls within the Gunnison National Forest, where landmarks like Morrow Point and Sheep Knob overlook the river.