1962 Map of Clifton

About this map

Orchard Mesa and the surrounding agricultural valleys are defined by an intricate network of irrigation, with the Highline Canal, Price Ditch, and Stub Ditch feeding the landscape. The Colorado River meanders through the center of the sheet, creating the fertile Oldham Bottoms below the rising cliffs of Mount Garfield and Mount Lincoln. Transportation infrastructure is a dominant theme, as the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad parallels the river, passing through Bridges Switch and providing a backbone for the area's development. Local life is centered around community landmarks like the East Orchard Mesa Community Hall and several rural congregations, including the Light and Life Chapel and the Central Orchard Mesa Community Ch. Settlement patterns show clusters of growth at Johnsons Corner and Fruitvale, while the IOOF Cem serves as a grounded point of local heritage.