Loading map...

1962 Map of New Castle

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of New Castle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

New Castle serves as the focal point of this early 1960s survey, positioned where the Colorado River cuts through the dramatic geological formations of the Grand Hogback and Coal Ridge. The landscape is defined by the intersection of water and industry, with the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracking the river’s path. The map reveals an intricate network of irrigation systems vital to the valley's development, including the Tompkins Ditch and Lower Cactus Valley Ditch, which redirect water from the Main Elk Creek and other tributaries to the surrounding lands.

Local history and genealogy interests are anchored by the High Land Cem north of town and several unnamed Mines near Burning Mountain, highlighting the area's coal-mining roots. Numerous family-named irrigation features like the Hinds and Ware Ditch and Ward and Reynolds Ditch provide a clear picture of how early settlers managed water rights across the complex terrain of Garfield Creek and Divide Creek.