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1962 Map of Iris

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Iris
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The settlement of Iris and its accompanying Iris Cem sit at the center of this high-altitude mining landscape along the border of Gunnison and Saguache counties. Early 1960s survey data reveals a region defined by late 19th and early 20th-century resource extraction and ranching, evidenced by the high concentration of hard-rock workings like the Lucky Strike Mine, Denver City Mine, and the Mineral Hill Mine.

The rugged drainage systems of Cochetopa Creek and Chance Gulch dictated the placement of pioneer-era holdings such as the Flick Homestead, Mick Homestead, and Jones Homestead. While larger operations like the Maple Leaf Mine are found near Sillsville, the map also documents small-scale ranching life at the Kreuger Ranch and Mitchell Ranch. This record is particularly valuable for genealogists tracing family names tied to the scattered homesteads and the various mining claims that once populated these isolated basins and ridges.