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1964 Map of Naturita

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Naturita
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Naturita sits along the winding course of the San Miguel River, serving as a central hub for the mid-1960s mining and aviation operations of the Paradox Basin. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the river valley to the prominent heights of Sawtooth Ridge and Naturita Ridge. Industrial and community infrastructure is clearly visible, from the Hopkins-Montrose County Airport on the northern mesa to the localized settlements of East Vancorum and West Vancorum.

Resource management in this arid environment is evidenced by the Chatfield Reed Ditch and the City Reservoir, which support the town's growth. Evidence of mid-century leisure also appears with the Drive-in Theater located just outside the main townsite. The surrounding terrain is heavily dissected by drainages such as Dry Creek, Broad Canyon, and Wickson Draw, while the southern reaches of the map are marked by the recovery of The Burn.