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1952 Map of Rifle

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Rifle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Colorado River carves through this Garfield County landscape, where the town of Rifle serves as a critical junction for the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. Photographed shortly after the war and field-checked in 1952, this survey documents a period of industrial activity and resource management. The vast Naval Oil Shale Reserve dominates the western hills, marked by high-altitude parks like Goodrich Park and Horse Park.

Down in the valley, the Vanadium Mill and a Coal Mine (Abandoned) reflect the region's mineral heritage, while extensive irrigation systems like the Last Chance Ditch and Pioneer and Western Ditch support agriculture on the surrounding plateaus. Named features such as Taughenbaugh Mesa and Graham Mesa highlight the family-driven settlement patterns that define this stretch of the Western Slope. Local social landmarks, including the Rifle Creek Community Club, anchor the rural community between the river and the northern gulches.