1956 Map of Poncha Springs

About this map

The Arkansas River valley serves as a bustling corridor for settlement and transit in this mid-century survey of Chaffee County. Communities like Poncha Springs and Salida anchor the southern landscape, while Nathrop and Centerville mark the northward route of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The terrain is defined by dramatic shifts in elevation, transitioning from the agricultural flats of Missouri Park to the high peaks of the San Isabel National Forest, including Mt Princeton and Shavano Peak. Local infrastructure reflects a diverse economy, from the Hydroelectric Plant and Salida Airport to the Chalk Cliff Fish Hatchery. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of early rural institutions like the Centerville School, the Nathrop School, and Fairview Cemetery, alongside industrial remnants such as the Lucky Mine and the irrigation network of the Bowen Ditch.