1959 Map of Florence SE

About this map

Union Highland Cem sits on the high ground of the northern plains, overlooking an intricate network of irrigation and natural drainage in the late 1950s. The landscape is defined by the heavy management of water, where the Minnequa Canal and Sikes and Chapson Ditch cut across the natural flow of Hardscrabble Creek and Mineral Creek. Local community life is anchored at the Mountain View Community Hall and the New Hope Ch, which stands near the southern boundary where the terrain begins to rise towards the Custer County line. This area reflects a transition from the municipal utility of the Florence City Water Reservoirs to the more agrarian reaches of Richie Gulch, documenting a period when small community landmarks and water rights shaped the local geography.