1960 Map of Paradox

About this map

The Paradox Valley floor and the deeply incised Dolores River dominate this 1960 landscape along the Utah-Colorado border. This survey captures a highly active mining district, particularly for uranium and vanadium minerals, as evidenced by names like the Radium Cycle Mine, the Sunrise Mine, and the Golden Cycle Mine. Settlement is concentrated at Paradox and Bedrock, where the local economy centered on ranching and mineral extraction. A unique industrial feature appears near the river: the Salt Evaporators and a salt water tank, reflecting the area's geological salt core which created the valley's distinct transverse topography. From the Paradox Cem to the remote cattle operations at Pace Ranch, the map documents the infrastructure of a working high-desert community, including multiple airstrips used for transport in this isolated corner of Montrose County.