1966 Map of Coal Creek

About this map

Buckley Air National Guard Base and the emerging Aurora Corporate Boundary define this landscape on the eastern edge of the Denver metro area during the mid-1960s. The map illustrates a transitional period where traditional prairie land and drainage systems like Coal Creek and Murphy Creek began to meet suburban expansion and infrastructure development. Aviation and transport footprints are prominent, from the Union Pacific rail line and Airline Road in the south to the East Colfax Airpark and Radio Towers near the northern boundary. Numerous Gravel Pit sites scattered along the creek beds highlight the local extraction industry supporting the region's mid-century growth. The terrain is marked by several ephemeral watercourses, including Senac Creek and First Creek, which carve through the open Mesa and military reservations.