Loading map...

1957 Map of Derby

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Derby
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The South Platte River and its industrial corridors define this mid-century look at the northeastern reaches of the Denver metropolitan area. The landscape is dominated by heavy infrastructure and sprawling municipal facilities, including the massive Denver Union Stockyard and the adjacent Denver Coliseum. To the east, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal occupies a significant portion of the landscape, while Stapleton Municipal Airport shows its mid-century configuration.

This era captures the northward expansion of residential suburbs like Thornton and Western Hills, contrasting with the established agricultural and water management systems seen at the State Game and Fish Hatchery and along the Niver Canal Extension. Numerous local institutions are mapped in detail, from the Riverside Cemetery and Rose Hill Cem to the sprawling Air Force Accounting & Finance Center, documenting the rapid transformation of Adams County from rural plains to an integrated urban industrial hub.