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1952 Map of Rifle

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Rifle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Rifle serves as the central hub of this 1952 landscape, where the Colorado River valley meets a series of dramatic geographic benches. The town is situated at the junction of Rifle Creek and the river, anchored by the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. Irrigation infrastructure, including the Pioneer Ditch and Lacy Ditch, reveals the intensive effort to manage water for agriculture on the surrounding flats like Prefontaine Mesa and Graham Mesa.

North and west of the settlement, the Naval Oil Shale Reserve dominates the high ground, punctuated by deep drainages such as Hubbard Gulch and Doodlebug Gulch. This period marks a transition between traditional ranching and the industrial potential of the region's mineral resources, evidenced by a Coal Mine (Abandoned) and a local Gravel Pit. Notable community landmarks include the Rifle Cem and the Rifle Community Club, while family-named features like Taughenbaugh Mesa and Webster Mesa highlight the local history of land usage.