1968 Map of Hooper East

About this map

Agricultural development in the San Luis Valley is meticulously documented on this late 1960s survey, dominated by a grid of numbered roads including Elevenmile Lane and Fourmile Lane. The landscape reflects a high-altitude desert environment transformed by hydraulic engineering, as evidenced by the San Luis Valley Irrigation Drain and numerous Flowing Wells dotting the valley floor. The small settlements of Hooper and Mosca anchor the western edge, serving as vital rail or road hubs for the surrounding farmsteads. To the east, the natural drainage of San Luis Creek and the presence of Bachelor Lake indicate the proximity of the dunes. The map's layout, featuring irrigation structures like Gibson Ditch and the South Lateral, reveals the complex water management systems required to sustain the region's ranching and farming economy during this era.