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1962 Map of Cortez

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Cortez
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The San Juan River carves through a landscape of high mesas and deep canyons across the Four Corners region in the early 1960s. This survey illustrates the intricate geography of the Navajo Indian Reservation and Ute Mountain Indian Reservation, where features like Comb Ridge and the Casa Del Eco Mesa define the local topography. The economic activity of the era is marked by Uranium and vanadium extraction, while the cultural heritage of the area is preserved within Mesa Verde National Park and several national monuments including Hovenweep National Monument.

Transportation networks are anchored by Cortez and Monticello, connected by US Highway 160 and US Highway 666. The map records the remnants of the Rio Grande Southern RR (Abandoned), tracing the path of former industrial rail lines through the high country of the San Juan National Forest. From the peaks of the Abajo Peak to the agricultural pockets near Dove Creek, the map details a region where high-altitude forests meet the arid canyonlands.