1952 Map of Jessup Gulch

About this map

Piceance Creek meanders through the heart of this high-plateau landscape, serving as the primary corridor for agricultural settlement in the mid-20th century. The map illustrates a network of family-held properties along the valley floor, including the P-L Ranch, Redd Ranch, and the Walter Oldland Ranch. The presence of the Stewart School near the confluence of Stewart Gulch and the creek points to a localized community center for the surrounding ranching families. Beyond the narrow riparian zones, the terrain rises sharply into a series of dissected ridges and gulches, such as Barnes Ridge and Sorghum Gulch. The reliance on water management is evident through several marked Ditch segments and a Flume along the creek, showing how early residents adapted to the semi-arid conditions of Rio Blanco County before modern large-scale developments altered the ranching economy.