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1963 Map of Durango West

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Durango West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The rugged western edge of Durango is defined by a landscape of deep canyons and industrial heritage in the early 1960s. High peaks like Smelter Mountain and Perins Peak overlook the narrow valley of the Animas River, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western tracks parallel the water. The map documents an era of active and legacy extraction, with an array of workings concentrated along Coal Gulch, including the Sunshine Mine, Morning Star Mine, and Victory Mine.

Residential growth climbs the lower slopes toward the San Juan National Forest, supported by local institutions such as Needham Sch and Miller Jr High Sch. Genealogists and historians can locate specific sites of interest like the Green Mountain Cemetery and the Fish Hatchery, while the presence of Tailings Ponds and an Old Railroad Grade indicates the evolving infrastructure of this Colorado mountain hub.