Loading map...

2011 Map of Empire

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Empire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

The town of Empire sits at the base of Douglas Mountain, serving as a central hub for the heavy mining activity that once defined this corridor of Clear Creek County. The landscape is densely marked by historic mineral extraction, with dozens of named claims including the Belle of Empire Mine, Conqueror Mines, and the Boulder Nest Mine near Lawson. These workings are concentrated along the steep slopes leading up to peaks like James Peak and Mount Eva.

High-altitude water management is evident through a series of reservoirs and dams, such as the Loch Lomond Dam and Stewart Lake Dam, which regulated flow for both mining and downstream needs. Near the mountain settlement of Alice, the map shows the Saint Marys Glacier Lodge and proximity to the Saint Marys Lake. Local history is further preserved at the Empire Cemetery and Alvorada Cemetery, while modern land use is reflected in the Rainbow Rancho Fish Hatchery and the Easter Seal Handicamp along the West Fork Clear Creek.