1954 Map of Craig

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this mid-century landscape, separating the high basins of North Park and Middle Park from the western slope drainage of the Yampa River. Centered on the ranching and coal-mining hub of Craig, the map documents the transition from high-mountain forests to the open plateaus of Northwest Colorado. Industrial footprints are evident in the Denver and Rio Grande Western rail line serving towns like Oak Creek and Phippsburg, while the emerging recreational landscape is marked by the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park and several national forests. The map records a time before the widespread inundation of regional reservoirs, showing Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake as prominent water bodies while other basins remain as natural valleys or smaller stream networks like Troublesome Creek.