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1964 Map of Somerset

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Somerset
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The North Fork Gunnison River carves a deep valley through this mid-1960s landscape, serving as the industrial corridor for the coal mining community of Somerset. Along the river banks, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad provides the vital transport link for local extraction operations, including the Bear Mine, Oliver Mine, and Clark Mine. Infrastructure like the Mountain Canal, a filtration plant, and a power plant support the concentrated settlement and industry within the narrow canyon floor.

Rising sharply from the river, the terrain transitions into the high plateau of the Gunnison National Forest. Notable geographic features include the broad Thousand Acre Flats and Buck Mesa, where a Cow Camp and various Jeep Trails suggest a landscape used for seasonal grazing and resource management. Water management is evident on these heights via the Hall Reservoir and Minnesota Reservoir, which capture runoff from the surrounding peaks and gulches.