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1951 Map of Masters

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

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

South Platte River waters dominate this agricultural landscape along the border of Weld and Morgan counties, where a complex irrigation system was well-established by the early 1950s. The network of the Riverside Canal, Empire Canal, and Bijou Canal moves water across the arid plains to support local farming, anchored by large water bodies like Empire Reservoir and Riverside Reservoir. The Union Pacific railroad corridor provides the primary transit spine, connecting the small settlements of Masters and Sublette along the river valley.

Local history and genealogy interests are centered on the Masters P O and the surrounding terrain features like Green City Flats. The presence of several Gravel Pits and a Gaging Sta along the river reflects the industrial and resource-management activities vital to this region's economy at mid-century. This survey captures a moment when the river-and-rail infrastructure defined the limits of growth and the rhythm of rural life in this part of Colorado.