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1957 Map of Mile High Lakes

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Mile High Lakes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Mile High Lakes and the expansive Barr Lake anchor this 1950s landscape of the High Plains, where agricultural development and water management define the terrain. The northern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by a complex system of irrigation reservoirs and canals, including Bowles Reservoir No 2, Calhoun Reservoir, and Meeks Res No 1. These features, alongside the Burlington Chicago and Quincy railroad line, illustrate the critical infrastructure required for settlement in this semi-arid region.

Rural community life is represented by the Green Valley Grange Hall and localized settlements like Klink. Private landownership and the ranching economy are visible through named properties such as Patton Ranch and Chapman Ranch, while the southern reaches are marked by the natural drainage of Third Grass Valley Creek. The map documents a period before suburban expansion transformed these open rangelands into part of the greater Denver metropolitan footprint.