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1940 Map of Derby

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Derby
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

The industrial and agricultural fringes north of Denver are captured here in a 1938 survey, showcasing a landscape defined by water engineering and early aviation. The South Platte River and its major tributaries, Clear Creek and Sand Creek, provide the central axis for the region's development. This water is diverted into a complex network of irrigation works, including the Fulton Ditch, O'Brien Ditch, and the Highline Canal, which support the rural settlements of Welby and Irondale.

Transportation infrastructure dominates the southeastern sector, where the Municipal Airport and a smaller Airport near Clayton College signal the era's growing aerial connectivity. Heavy rail lines like the Union Pacific and Chicago Burlington and Quincy converge at hubs such as Sand Creek Junc and Utah Junction. Local life is anchored by institutions like Riverside Cemetery and several community schools including Mapleton Sch and Smiley Sch.