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1951 Map of La Salle

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of La Salle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Agricultural development in Weld County is defined by an intricate network of irrigation, as shown in this 1951 record. The confluence of the South Platte River and its managed tributaries supports a landscape of ditches and reservoirs, including the expansive Lower Latham Reservoir and smaller pools like Peckham Lake. The Union Pacific railroad cuts through the heart of La Salle, a central hub for the surrounding settlements of Evans and Hambert.

Social and industrial infrastructure is visible through grounded details like the Big Bend School and Beebe Draw School, which served the rural population before mid-century consolidation. Evidence of local industry appears in several gravel excavations, including a Gravel Pit (Aband) near the river. The map captures the reliance on water rights and engineering, tracing lines such as the Platte Valley Canal No 2 and Latham Ditch as they navigate the natural depressions of Beebe Draw and Ashcroft Draw.