Loading map...

1967 Map of Ridgway

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Ridgway
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Ridgway sits at the confluence of the Uncompahgre River and Dallas Creek, serving as a focal point for the ranching and transport networks of western Colorado in the late 1960s. The landscape is defined by massive plateau features like Log Hill Mesa and Miller Mesa, which overlook the fertile drainage of Pleasant Valley. These high benches are crisscrossed by a network of drainage systems such as Horsefly Creek and Fisher Creek, where water management is evident through features like Elephant Reservoir and the Dallas Ditch.

Transport history is prominently etched into the valley floor, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western rail line follows the river, flanked by segments of Old RR Grade. Local landmarks such as the Dallas Park Cem and the distinctive Knife Edge point toward the area's early settlement patterns. On the mesas, labels like Burnt Mill Mesa and Busted Boiler Draw suggest a history of localized industry and rugged early western labor.