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1963 Map of Durango East

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Durango East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor tracks the winding course of the Animas River, anchoring the settlement of Durango against a backdrop of dramatic vertical relief. This early 1960s landscape shows the city’s expansion northward and eastward, with institutional anchors like Fort Lewis College and Riverview Sch positioned on the rising benches above the river valley. The map documents an intricate network of water management, including the Farmers Ditch, Reid Ditch, and Florida Canal, which supported the agricultural development of the surrounding Florida Mesa.

Transitioning from the river valley to the high country, the survey covers the eastern slopes of Animas City Mountain and the expansive San Juan National Forest. To the east, Missionary Ridge and Baldy Mountain rise above the Florida River, where small landmarks like the Animas Ranger Station and various canyons such as Hafilin Canyon and Kroeger Canyon provide specific points of reference for local historians and researchers tracking the intersection of wilderness and mid-century western development.