1966 Map of Del Norte

About this map

The Rio Grande defines the character of this 1966 topographic study, its waters diverted through an intricate network of irrigation ditches including the Rio Grande Canal and Farmers Union Canal. The settlement of Del Norte sits on the river's southern bank, flanked by Lookout Mountain and the Del Norte Cem. To the east, the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks run through Evansville, tracing the valley floor toward Plaza. North of the river, the landscape transitions into the distinctive geological forms of Elephant Rocks and East Butte within the Rio Grande National Forest. This map reveals the heavy reliance on seasonal water management in the San Luis Valley, visible in the numbered laterals and roads like Tenmile Road and Ninemile Road that grid the agricultural territory.