Loading map...

1950 Map of Northgate

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Northgate
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The North Platte River winds through the high-altitude borderlands between Colorado and Wyoming, carving a path between Independence Mountain and Pinkham Mountain. This 1950 survey highlights a landscape defined by extractive industry and complex water management at the mid-century mark. Significant mining activity is concentrated on the eastern slopes, where the Fluorspar Mine, Penber Mine, and Springer Pit are situated among the peaks.

Transportation and infrastructure follow the natural geography of the river valley, with the Union Pacific railroad and Newport Pacific road connecting the small settlement of Northgate to the surrounding region. The presence of the Durgin Ditch and Cumberland Ditch illustrates the vital role of irrigation in this arid environment. Spanning the Medicine Bow National Forest and Routt National Forest, the map records a rugged area where ranching at Quaintance Ranch and commercial mining intersected with federal land management.