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1963 Map of Durango East

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Durango East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Animas River valley serves as the central artery for this 1963 survey of the area east of Durango. This period captures the town's northward expansion, featuring established institutions like Fort Lewis College, Mercy Hospital, and the Municipal Golf Course. The river corridor is defined by the narrow-gauge Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, which tracks the western bank beneath the heights of Animas City Mountain.

To the east, the landscape transitions from the residential developments of Durango into the steep terrain of Missionary Ridge and the broad, agricultural Florida Mesa. The complex irrigation network of the Florida Canal and Farmers Ditch illustrates the early reliance on the Florida River for local ranching. This map provides a clear record of the intersection between industrial rail transit and the residential growth that shaped the modern character of La Plata County.