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1945 Map of Pitkin

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Pitkin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Pitkin and Ohio City serve as the primary hubs for this mountain landscape, defined by a complex network of high-altitude mining operations and glacial lakes. Deep drainages like Quartz Creek and Gold Creek are lined with evidence of the area's industrial past, featuring notable sites such as the Gold Links Mine, Raymond Mine, and Carter Mine. These mining claims are etched into the steep terrain surrounding peaks like Fairview Mtn and Fossil Mtn.

Beyond the industrial activity, the map details the early infrastructure of the Gunnison County backcountry, including the Sparta Sch and remote outposts like Chicago Park. Natural features such as Lamphier Lake and the Taylor River provide a stark contrast to the concentrated mining activity found in the gulches. The survey captures a moment when traditional resource extraction still dominated the local economy, long before modern recreational development transformed these high-country settlements.