1913 Map of Red Mesa

About this map

The high plateau of Red Mesa in La Plata County defines a landscape of early 20th-century agriculture and ranching, heavily dependent on the management of water through systems like the Pruett Ditch and McDermott Ditch. The agricultural settlements of Kline and Redmesa serve as the primary hubs, with the Mormon Church providing a central landmark for the local community. The mapping of the South Boundary Ute Ceded Land running across the northern portion of the sheet reflects the era's complex history of land tenure and the relocation of indigenous territories. Transportation and industry are anchored by the Rio Grande Southern RR and the Fort Lewis Sta in the northeast, while numerous gulches such as Alkali Gulch and Rattlesnake Gulch carry seasonal flows toward the La Plata River. The presence of several educational institutions, including the Rockville School and Bruiser School, underscores the distributed nature of the rural population during this period.