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1962 Map of Palisade

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Palisade
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Palisade sits at the foot of the dramatic Western Slope, where the Colorado River carves a path through the valley. This 1962 field check reveals a landscape defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems essential to the region's famous fruit orchards, including the Government High Line Canal, Stub Ditch, and Orchard Mesa Canal No 2. Beyond the agricultural flats of Orchard Mesa, the terrain rises sharply toward Grand Mesa and the Grand Mesa National Forest, marked by geologic features like The Blowout and Horse Mountain.

The industrial character of the era is evident in the presence of several coal operations, such as the Palisade Mines, Farmers Mine, and Mt Lincoln Mine, all situated near the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Local education is anchored by the Taylor Sch, while the high country to the east is dotted with remote water sources like Whiskers Pond and Kruzen Spring, critical for the high-altitude ranching and forest management of the time.