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1927 Map of Pagosa Springs

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

USGS Topo · Published 1927

About this map

Pagosa Springs serves as the hub for this 1920s survey of the San Juan Mountains, situated at the confluence of the San Juan River and the Pagosa River. The landscape is defined by its early transport and education networks, with the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad threading through the southern border, connecting remote river settlements like Pagosa Junction, Arboles, and Carracas. The presence of several rural schools, including the Yellowjacket School and Stollsteimer School, indicates a dispersed but established community of homesteaders and ranchers operating within the San Juan National Forest.

The map highlights the complex boundaries of the era, such as the Ute Ceded Land and the southern border with New Mexico, marked by the Carpenter Line (1902). Distinctive geological landmarks like Chimney Rock and Graham Peak overlook a network of ranger stations, including the Turkey Springs Ranger Station, which supported the management of this mountain terrain before the modern highway system fully integrated the region.