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1994 Map of Salida West

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Salida West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

The Arkansas River corridor in Chaffee County serves as the central artery for this late-20th-century landscape, carving through a series of distinct geographic basins including Sand Park, Adobe Park, and Missouri Park. The settlement pattern is defined by the established hub of Poncha Springs and the industrial character of Smeltertown north of Salida. A complex network of irrigation infrastructure, such as the Missouri Park Ditch, Kraft Ditch, and Monte Ditch, reveals the intensive water management required for agriculture and local operations like the Shavano State Fish Hatchery.

Transitioning from the river valley to the higher elevations, the map shows the boundary of the San Isabel National Forest where resource extraction is evident through numerous labeled mines and prospects in Longs Gulch. Cultural and community landmarks are well-documented, from the Fairview Cemetery and Longfellow School to the Harriet Alexander Field and the Rodeo Ground, providing a detailed look at the social and economic fabric of the Upper Arkansas River Valley during the 1990s.