1908 Map of Loveland

About this map

Loveland and Berthoud anchor this detailed survey of the Colorado Front Range, captured as the region’s irrigation infrastructure was undergoing massive expansion. The Big Thompson River serves as the primary artery for a complex network of man-made waterways, including the Louden Ditch, Barnes Ditch, and the Loveland and Greeley Canal. These systems transformed the arid plains into productive agricultural land, fueling the growth of early 20th-century sugar beet and plaster industries. Industrial heritage is marked by the Plaster Mill near Arkins and the tracks of the Great Western RR. To the west, the landscape rises sharply into the Roosevelt National Forest, where peaks like Flatiron Mtn and the narrow Loveland Canyon contrast with the meticulously engineered reservoirs of the valley floor, such as Lake Loveland and the Boyd Lakes.