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1961 Map of Fountain SE

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Fountain SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The semi-arid high plains of south-central Colorado are defined by a network of ephemeral watercourses and large cattle ranching operations during the early 1960s. Fountain Creek flows along the western edge, providing a crucial water source that supported early settlement and transportation corridors. The industrial character of the region is evident in the parallel lines of the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR and the A T & S F RR, which follow the creek valley south toward the El Paso Co Pueblo Co boundary.

Family ranching legacies are anchored by properties like the Hammer Ranch, Williams Ranch, and Paige Ranch, connected by rural tracks such as Overton Road. Water management for agriculture is visible through the engineering of the Hanover Ditch and the Jackson and Burke Ditch, illustrating how the landscape was adapted for ranching. A single Gravel Pit near the center of the sheet and a cross-country Pipeline reflect the infrastructure needs of the era.