1962 Map of De Beque

About this map

De Beque serves as the central hub of this early 1960s landscape, situated where the Colorado River meets Roan Creek and winds through the striking De Beque Canyon. The town's connection to the wider region is defined by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which follows the river's path, and the De Beque Cutoff Road heading south. Irrigation infrastructure, vital to this arid environment, is meticulously documented through features like the Bluestone Valley Ditch and the Larkin Ditch. To the east, the terrain rises sharply toward Samson Mesa and the high country of the Grand Mesa National Forest. Genealogists and historians can trace local landmarks from Horsethief Mountain down to the drainage of Shire Gulch, revealing a landscape shaped by both natural erosion and human water management efforts like the Sunnyside Reservoir.