1961 Map of Crested Butte

About this map

Crested Butte sits at the northern edge of this high-altitude landscape, where Coal Creek meets the Slate River. In the early 1960s, the town's footprint remained compact, surrounded by the reaching boundaries of the Gunnison National Forest. Evidence of the region’s extractive and agricultural history is etched into the terrain, from the Bulkley Mine (Site) on the slopes of Baxter Gulch to the complex network of irrigation channels like the Verzuh Ditch and Dillsworth Ditch. An Old Railroad Grade snakes along the river valleys, marking the path of former industry through the meadows of Cold Spring Ranch and toward Strand Hill. The southern portion of the sheet is defined by the massive profiles of Whetstone Mtn and Red Mountain, separated by the deep drainage of Carbon Creek. This survey captures the transition of the valley from a mining and ranching hub toward its modern character, evidenced by the presence of Skyland Camp near Lake Grant.