1908 Map of Fort Collins

About this map

The Fort Collins landscape at the turn of the century is defined by an intricate network of irrigation ditches and reservoirs, essential to the agricultural expansion of Larimer County. The city itself is the hub for the Colorado State Agricultural College and is bisected by the Colorado and Southern RR, which connects smaller satellite settlements like Wellington and Stout. West of the city, the terrain transitions sharply into the foothills, where landmarks such as Horsetooth and the Empire Mine overlook the Cache La Poudre River. The map meticulously details early water engineering projects, including the Larimer and Weld Ditch and the Greeley Pipe Line Reservoir, which supported the region's burgeoning sugar beet and ranching economies. From the stone quarries near Stout to the homesteads around Laporte, this survey captures the infrastructure of a frontier community maturing into a regional center.