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1897 Map of La Plata

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of La Plata
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

La Plata Mountains dominate this 1895 survey, revealing a landscape defined by high-altitude mining and the expansion of the Rio Grande Southern R. R. through the rugged terrain of Southwest Colorado. The map documents the peak of silver and gold exploration in the district, with active sites like the Columbus Mine and Hibernia Mine situated near the headwaters of Lewis Creek. The industrial footprint is evident at the Little Kate Mill and the Ute Coal Mine, which served the region's energy needs.

Settlement patterns follow the mountain passes and valleys, from the ranching at Menefee Ranch to the rail stops at Hesperus, Cima, and Ute Junction. The geographic transition between Montezuma Co. and La Plata Co. is clearly delineated across the Thompson Park basin. This topographic record captures the era's complex network of gulches and ridges, including the appropriately named Starvation Creek and the high-elevation Cumberland Basin, at a time when mountain industry was the primary driver of local growth.