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1915 Map of Sunnyside

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

USGS Topo · Published 1915

About this map

Sunnyside serves as the primary hub for this 1915 survey of the Book Cliffs region, situated at the mouth of Whitmore Canyon. The landscape is dominated by the steep elevation gains of Patmos Mountain and West Ridge, where a network of deep drainages like Spring Canyon and Water Canyon carve through the high plateaus. The arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad through the lower valley is the defining industrial feature of the era, providing the necessary transport for the area's emerging resource extraction economy.

Local landmarks such as the Pierson Ranch and the Pumping Station reflect the early ranching and utility infrastructure required to sustain life in this arid environment. Significant high points, including the 10,047-foot Mt Bartles and Bruin Pt, provide clear topographical context for the surrounding wilderness. The map captures the transition of Carbon County from an isolated frontier into a connected industrial corridor during the early 20th century.