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1915 Map of Summitville

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Summitville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1915
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1915

About this map

Summitville serves as the focal point for this high-altitude survey, illustrating the intensive gold and silver mining activity concentrated near the Continental Divide. The landscape is dotted with significant industrial operations like the Asiatic Mine, Pass-Me-By Mine, and the Forest King Mine, which speak to the region's mineral-driven economy during the early 20th century. Beyond the major mines, the map details the infrastructure required for such remote work, including the tiny settlements of Stunner and Platoro, along with family-named outposts like the Chapson Ranch and Dowels Ranch.

Transitioning from the peaks to the valleys, the survey reveals a scattering of rural community life along the Rio Blanco and the San Juan River. The presence of the Blanco Basin School and Blanco School indicates established homesteads in these isolated drainage basins. Topographically, the map is dominated by a succession of high peaks including Montezuma Pk and Summit Pk, while the Carpenter Line 1902 provides a key navigational and surveying reference for researchers tracing early Colorado land divisions.