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1956 Map of Cortez

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Cortez
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Cortez serves as a central hub for this Four Corners landscape during the mid-20th century, where the high plateaus of Colorado meet the canyonlands of Utah. The geography is defined by significant indigenous lands, including the Navajo Indian Reservation and the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation centered at Towaoc. Cultural preservation is evident at Mesa Verde National Park and Hovenweep National Monument, while higher elevations are managed within the San Juan National Forest and Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Water management is critical to the region's agricultural settlements like Dove Creek and Pleasant View, shown through a network of infrastructure including Totten Reservoir and Jackson Gulch Reservoir. The map captures the transition from wilderness to established community, noting the Fort Lewis A&M College and the winding Laramie Trail. From the dramatic uplift of Comb Ridge to the peaks of the Abajo Peak, the survey documents a complex system of washes and creeks that feed the San Juan River and Dolores River.