1965 Map of Ralston Buttes

About this map

Ralston Buttes and the high peaks of Blue Mountain dominate this mid-century look at Jefferson County, where the transition from the mountains to the Rocky Flats plateau is marked by a complex network of canyons and gulches. The landscape is defined by industrial extraction, featuring numerous mines, a Fire Clay Mine, and multiple clay pits along the eastern edge near the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad line. Local connectivity is provided by the Robinson Hill Road and various jeep trails that navigate the steep terrain between Mount Tom and Belcher Hill. Settled outposts like Centennial Ranch and Guy Hill appear amidst the drainage systems of Ralston Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, illustrating the scattered homesteading and ranching patterns that persisted alongside the region's mineral operations and water management at the Ralston Res.