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1965 Map of Fitzsimons

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Fitzsimons
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Aurora is captured here during a period of significant mid-century expansion, dominated by large federal institutions and military installations. The sprawling Fitzsimons General Hospital and Lowry Air Force Base anchor the northern and western margins, while the Buckley Air National Guard Base occupies a massive footprint to the east. These government centers drove the rapid subdivision of former ranch lands, evident in the dense network of schools like Hinkley High Sch and Virginia Court Sch appearing alongside suburban amenities such as the Drive-in Theater.

To the south, the landscape shifts toward water management and recreation at the Cherry Creek Reservoir. The surrounding Cherry Creek State Recreation Area provides a buffer of open space, contrasting with the residential grids moving toward the Aurora Corporate Boundary. This map effectively documents the transition from the historic Smoky Hill ridge and drainage systems like Toll Gate Creek into a modern metropolitan corridor.