1940 Map of Eastlake

About this map

Agricultural development and water management define this landscape north of Denver as documented just before the 1940s. The Union Pacific rail line provides the central spine for the region, connecting the primary settlement of Eastlake with smaller stations like Darlow and Hazeltine. This period of Adams County history reveals an intricate network of irrigation vital to the high plains economy, including the Farmers High Line Canal and Brantner Ditch. Rural social centers are clearly marked by several local educational and religious landmarks, such as Pleasantview Sch, Brantner Sch, and Wesley Chapel. The drainage of Big Dry Creek and the flow of the South Platte River dictate the placement of numerous reservoirs like Lake Erie and Ohio Lake, which supported the surrounding farms and dairies that characterized the area during this era of growth.