2019 Map of Gem Village

About this map

Gem Village and the high desert plateaus of La Plata County are defined by a sophisticated network of historical irrigation infrastructure. This modern survey illustrates how water management has shaped settlement patterns, with the King Consolidated Ditch and Morrison Consolidated Ditch carving paths through the terrain to support local life. Between the Florida River and the Los Pinos River, the landscape is marked by deep geographic features like Brice Canyon and Holman Canyon. Genealogists and local historians can locate the Ouray Memorial Cem in the southeastern corner near the riverbanks, while the presence of the Durango-La Plata County Airport near Oxford signals the area's role as a regional transit hub. Smaller settlements like Florida and numerous family-named roads further reveal the distributed nature of this Colorado community.