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1960 Map of Severance

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Severance
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Severance serves as the focal point of this Weld County landscape, where an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure enabled the transformation of the high plains. The map meticulously documents the distribution of water through the Great Western Canal, Eaton Ditch, and Law Ditch, which feed a series of family-named reservoirs and lakes including Woods Lake, Swanson Lake, and Baldridge Lake. This hydraulic engineering supported both agriculture and the region's burgeoning energy sector.

Energy extraction is prominent at the Black Hollow Oil Field and the New Windsor Oil Field, marking the industrial footprint near the town center. Local history details such as the Smith Sch and the winding path of Coalbank Creek provide a granular view of the mid-century settlement pattern. The prominence of Black Hollow Reservoir and Windsor Reservoir highlights the scale of water storage required to sustain this community on the edge of the Colorado prairie.