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1960 Map of Rico

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Rico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Rico occupies a narrow valley floor in the high San Juan Mountains, serving as the central hub for a landscape defined by 19th-century silver and base metal extraction. The settlement is flanked by peaks like Anchor Mountain and Dolores Mountain, with the Dolores River providing the primary corridor for movement. An Old Railroad Grade traces the riverbank, indicating the departed industrial infrastructure that once supported the numerous workings dotting the surrounding gulches.

Prospectors and mining historians can trace the density of claims around the townsite, including the Enterprise Mine, Silver Bell Mine, and the Union Carbonate Mine. Higher elevations within the San Juan National Forest are marked by significant landmarks like Sockrider Peak and the Telephone Trail. This 1960 field-checked survey reveals the transition of a classic Colorado mining district as it moved away from active rail service while maintaining its concentrated mountain character.