2016 Map of Fairplay East

About this map

The town of Fairplay serves as the focal point for this high-altitude landscape, where the Middle Fork South Platte River winds through a complex system of irrigation and water management. Significant genealogical sites include the Old Fairplay Cem and the Fairplay Cem, resting on the edge of the settlement near the riverbanks. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations such as Red Hill, Reinecker Ridge, and Meier Ridge, which hem in the river valley. A dense network of historical water diversions, including the Raynor-Edmonson Ditches, Alkaline Ditch, and Siggins Ditch, reveals the area's agricultural reliance on redirected mountain runoff. Numerous other channels like Bonell Ditch and Mahee Ditch crisscross the valley floor, illustrating how the high plains were adapted for ranching and settlement during this era.