1949 Map of Naturita NW

About this map

The Paradox Valley floor and the surrounding high country of Monogram Mesa characterize this 1949 survey of western Colorado. This specific landscape captures a critical moment in the region's uranium and vanadium mining history, centered on the Thunderbolt Mine and nearby Thunderbolt Spring. The topography transitions from the dramatic cliffs of Sawtooth Ridge down to the arid drainages of Dry Creek and its various branches, including West Fork Dry Creek and East Fork Dry Creek. The map also documents the boundary between Montrose and San Miguel Counties, providing a clear record of land use and resource extraction just as the post-war mining boom was intensifying in the Colorado Plateau. Water sources, vital for both mining operations and ranching, are meticulously noted, from Eddie Lake to the seasonal flow of East Paradox Creek.