1962 Map of Palisade

About this map

Palisade stands as a hub of irrigation and industry along the north bank of the Colorado River, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad follows the water's edge. This early 1960s survey captures the region's complex resource economy, balancing the extensive orchards of East Orchard Mesa with the subterranean activity of the Palisade Mines, Farmers Mine, and Midwest Mine. The landscape shifts abruptly from the fertile river valley to the towering heights of the Grand Mesa and the Grand Mesa National Forest, where high-altitude water management is evident through systems like Palisade Res No 2 and Cliff Lake Reservoir. The terrain is marked by distinctive geological features such as The Blowout and Horse Mountain, while numerous jeep trails wind through Halls Basin, providing access to isolated mining claims like the Blackbird Mine.