1963 Map of Pierce Gulch

About this map

The Arkansas River serves as the dominant hydrological and industrial corridor in this early 1960s survey of the Fremont and Pueblo county border. Following the northern bank of the river, the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor underscores the importance of this valley for regional transportation and commerce. The landscape north of the river is defined by a complex network of drainages including Pierce Gulch, Green Gulch, and Red Creek, which carve through the high ground leading toward Booth Mountain. While the southern portion of the map shows evidence of infrastructure like a Pipeline and a Ditch, much of the northern terrain remains characterized by its natural watercourses like Beaver Creek and Booth Gulch. This map provides a look at the mid-century intersection of natural topography and the steel-and-water infrastructure that shaped this part of Colorado.