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1956 Map of Sulphur Mountain

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Sulphur Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Sulphur Mountain dominates the eastern horizon of this mid-century Colorado landscape, rising above a network of ranchlands and irrigation systems. The high-altitude terrain is defined by the confluence of the Middle Fork and South Fork of the South Platte River, where a complex water management system is visible through features like the Harrington Ditch, Western Ditch, and Central Ditch. This era shows the valley before significant modernization, capturing historic cattle operations such as Buckley Ranch, Spinney Ranch, and Harrington Ranch along the riverbanks.

Evidence of early industrial transport persists in the Old Platte Railroad Grade, tracing the river's path through the southern portion of the map. To the west, the residential footprint of Pike-San Isabel Village sits at the edge of the Pike National Forest. The map also records several prospecting efforts, noted simply as an Oil Well and Well, marking the intersection of traditional ranching and natural resource exploration in Park County.