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1949 Map of Highland Ranch

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Highland Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The Highline Canal and its intricate network of laterals define this agricultural landscape south of Denver, where the border of Arapahoe Co and Douglas Co divides the rolling ranchlands. In this era, the area is dominated by large-scale homesteads and rural education hubs like Curtis Sch and Castlewood Sch. The map reveals the infrastructure of early 20th-century water management, including the Englewood Dam and multiple storage sites like Chamberlain No 1 Res.

Named working landscapes such as Cheese Ranch, McArthur Ranch, and the original Highland Ranch headquarters provide a detailed look at the region's ranching heritage before suburban development transformed the South Metro area. Traceable drainage patterns such as Big Dry Creek and Marcy Gulch highlight the natural topography that dictated the placement of these early settlements and the planned Kistler Reservoir Site.