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1960 Map of Nucla

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Nucla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Nucla serves as the primary hub of this high-desert landscape in the early 1960s, situated near the San Miguel River and south of the rugged Uncompahgre National Forest boundary. The town center is clearly defined by local infrastructure including the High Sch and the nearby Town Reservoir. The surrounding terrain is a complex system of plateaus and canyons, including the family-named Templeton Ranch along the winding Tabeguache Creek.

Mineral extraction and land management are evident through the presence of the Navajo Mine and N x Mine located near Spradlin Park. A series of natural parks and draws, such as Calamity Draw, Tuttle Draw, and First Park, illustrate a geography where ranching and mining dictated the placement of early improvements. This 1960 record identifies the precise layout of irrigation and access during a period of steady local industry.