Loading map...

1981 Map of Denver East

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Denver East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Stapleton International Airport and Buckley Air National Guard Base dominate the transitioning landscape of the eastern plains as they stood in the early 1980s. This survey, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, captures the tension between rapid urban expansion and the agricultural heritage of Adams and Arapahoe counties. While the core of Denver and Aurora shows dense development, the eastern reaches remain defined by ephemeral waterways like Box Elder Creek and Kiowa Creek.

Regional infrastructure is prominently featured, including the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads. Notable conservation and military zones like the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Barr Lake State Park, and a dedicated Military Reservation create large corridors of open space. The map also documents smaller aviation hubs of the era, such as the Sky Ranch Airport and Columbine Airport, which served the region's growing general aviation needs.