1961 Map of Elsmere

About this map

Peterson Field anchors the center of this landscape during a period of significant expansion for eastern Colorado Springs. Originally surveyed in the late 1940s and updated through the mid-1970s, the map documents the transition of high plains ranch land into a bustling aviation and suburban corridor. To the south, the community of Security shows dense residential development, supported by local institutions like Wilson Jr High Sch and Widefield High Sch. The industrial and transportation history of the area is represented by the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and an Old Railroad Grade cutting across the northern reaches near Elsmere. Significant water resources, including Big Johnson Reservoir and Little Johnson Res, provide a stark contrast to the surrounding arid terrain, while the Pikes Peak Speedway points to the region's mid-century recreational culture.