1983 Map of Paonia

About this map

Paonia and Hotchkiss serve as the primary hubs in this West Slope landscape, which is defined by the dramatic transition from high desert mesas to the high peaks of the West Elk Mountains. In the early 1980s, the local economy is visibly driven by agriculture and energy, with numerous coal operations such as the Bowie Mine and Somerset Mine clustered along the North Fork Gunnison River. The transportation network relies on the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR, which follows the river corridor to move resources from the mines through Somerset.