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1927 Map of Pagosa Springs

Name: 1927 Topographic Map of Pagosa Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The Piedra River and San Juan River drainages define this high-altitude landscape during the mid-1920s, a period when the mountain economy relied on a network of remote ranger stations and isolated country schools. High-country landmarks like Pagosa Peak and Chimney Rock overlook a territory transitioning from the mining activity at Shamrock Mine to the timber and ranching interests that supported local hubs like Pagosa Springs.

The southern reaches of the map highlight the critical infrastructure of the era, specifically the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad line tracing the state border through Pagosa Junction and Arboles. This region is also shaped by historical jurisdictional lines, including the Ute Ceded Land Boundary, which influenced the distribution of small educational centers such as Yellowjacket School and Stollsteimer School across the valleys.