1952 Map of Rio Blanco

About this map

The Naval Oil Shale Reserve dominates the southern landscape of this 1952 survey, illustrating the strategic importance of energy resources in the post-war era along the border of Rio Blanco and Garfield counties. The topography is defined by the striking ridge of the Grand Hogback and the steep escarpments of the Book Cliffs, creating a drainage network for Piceance Creek and its many tributaries like Trapper Creek and Bitter Creek. A sense of shifting utility is evident in the presence of the Rio Blanco School (Aband) and the Rio Blanco Mine (Inactive), suggesting a rural community in transition as earlier settlements and extraction sites were being consolidated or left behind. The inclusion of a Ski Tow near the Government Road points to early recreational developments on the high slopes near Monument Peak.