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1965 Map of Grand Junction

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

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Grand Junction serves as the regional hub at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Gunnison, anchoring a valley of irrigated orchards and small towns like Palisade and Fruita. To the west and north, the landscape transforms into a high-desert plateau defined by the towering Book Cliffs and Roan Cliffs, which segment the terrain into distinct basins like the Uintah Basin. This 1960s-era documentation shows the vital agricultural infrastructure of the Grand Valley, including the Government Highline Canal, alongside the industrial and geological assets of the region.

Transportation networks are heavily influenced by the geology, with the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR following the river corridor while the Uintah RR (Abandoned) traces a path through more challenging territory toward Dragon. The map also captures the sprawling Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation and the protected lands of Colorado National Monument, illustrating the transition from the settled river valley to the remote ridges of Skinner Ridge and Cathedral Bluffs.