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1954 Map of Monument

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Monument
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Monument and Palmer Lake serve as the primary population centers in this mid-century view of the Colorado Front Range, where the eastern edge of the Black Forest meets the rail corridors of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroads. The map documents a transition from traditional ranching to mid-century rural development, noted by the density of named family properties such as the Wissler Ranch, Hardesty Ranch, and Flying Horse Ranch.

Infrastructure for the era is clearly marked, including an Airway Beacon and several stretches of underground telephone cable. Local social hubs like the Mt Herman Grange and the Black Forest Baptist Assembly are prominent, alongside smaller siding stops like Pring and Husted. The landscape is etched by numerous drainage systems including Dirty Woman Creek and Monument Creek, illustrating the complex hydrology of this elevated terrain before modern suburban expansion transformed the El Paso County corridor.