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1923 Map of Elkhead Creek

Name: 1923 Topographic Map of Elkhead Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Routt National Forest dominates the northern reaches of this Colorado landscape, where high peaks like Pinnacle Mtn and Slide Mtn overlook a complex network of gulches and creeks. In the 1920s, this region was a tapestry of small-scale mining operations and isolated rural education hubs. The presence of the Star Mine, Seymour Mine, and Bridges Mine north of Elkhead points to the early coal and mineral exploration defining the local economy.

Transport and education were closely linked to the terrain, as seen by the numerous schoolhouses positioned along major drainage routes, including the Upper Elkhead School, Dry Fork School, and Bear Creek School. The Yampa River flows through the southern portion of the sheet, paralleled by the tracks of the Denver and Salt Lake railroad. This corridor provided the primary connection for settlements like Mesa Rica and Elkhead, bridging the gap between high-altitude forest management at the Bears Ears Ranger Station and the agricultural basin of the river valley.