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1983 Map of Denver West

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Denver West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

The Front Range of the Rockies meets the expanding urban corridor of the western Denver metro area in this early 1980s landscape. From the high peaks of the Continental Divide at Grays Peak and Mount Evans, the terrain descends sharply into historical mining districts around Central City and Black Hawk. The transition from mountain wilderness to suburban development is marked by the distinct Hogback ridge and prominent landforms like North Table Mtn.

Infrastructure of the era is clearly defined, featuring the engineering of the Moffat Tunnel and the strategic industrial footprint of the Rocky Flats Plant (U.S. Dept. of Energy). Water management is central to the region's geography, with the Clear Creek corridor and large reservoirs such as Gross Reservoir and Chatfield Lake supporting the growth of Lakewood, Golden, and Arvada. High-altitude passes like Berthoud Pass and Loveland Pass remain the primary gateways through the Arapaho National Forest.