Loading map...

1908 Map of Durango

Name: 1908 Topographic Map of Durango
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1908
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1908

About this map

Durango serves as the industrial and transport hub for the Animas Valley during this early twentieth-century period, anchored by the Durango Smelter and the busy yards of the Denver and Rio Grande R. R. The map illustrates a landscape transitioning from wild terrain to a resource-driven economy, where narrow-gauge rail lines like the Denver and Silverton Line hug the banks of the Animas River. High-altitude mining operations are prominent in the surrounding peaks, including the Neglected Mine and Boston Coal Mine, supported by processing sites like the Oro Fino Mill.

Irrigation infrastructure, such as the Animas Valley Consolidated Ditch and John Reed Ditch, reveals the agricultural efforts on the valley floor. Beyond the city, small communities like Hermosa, Trimble, and Animas line the river valley. The topography rises sharply to landmarks such as Animas City Mtn and Twin Buttes, while the southeastern corner is dominated by the broad Florida Mesa above the Florida River.