1965 Map of Cortez

About this map

Cortez serves as the focal point of this mid-1960s survey, surrounded by the agricultural and archaeologically rich landscape of the Montezuma Valley. The map highlights a community in transition, showing essential infrastructure such as Calkins Jr High Sch, Kemper Sch, and a Drive-in Theater alongside traditional resource extraction like the Todd Mine and various Gravel Pits. To the south, the topography shifts dramatically toward the Mesa Verde National Park North Rim and the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation. The map is particularly notable for its density of archaeological markers, documenting numerous Indian Ruins and Cliff Dwellings tucked into the canyons. Water management is a defining theme, illustrated by the complex network of the Highline Ditch and Rocky Ford Ditch which sustain the valley floor near McElmo Creek.