1940 Map of Piney Creek

About this map

Piney Creek winds through a landscape of sharp relief and complex topography at the onset of the 1940s, marking a period of meticulous survey by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the City and County of Denver. The map documents a sparsely developed area where the convergence of Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties creates a unique tri-county boundary point. This drainage network, including the deeply incised Sulphur Gulch and Baldwin Gulch, illustrates the natural hydrology of the High Plains before modern suburban expansion. The inclusion of the Denver Board of Water Commissioners as a sponsor highlights the critical importance of water resources like Coal Creek and Murphy Cr to the region's developing infrastructure and municipal planning.