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1955 Map of The Meadows

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of The Meadows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Grand Mesa National Forest defines the landscape of this mid-century survey, revealing a high-elevation environment managed for water and grazing. Irrigation infrastructure is prominent throughout the terrain, with family-named water features like McKelvie Res and Labbe Res alongside the Salt Creek Ditch and Rock Creek Ditch. These diversions illustrate the critical role of water management in supporting the region's agricultural interests.

Evidence of seasonal ranching is anchored by the Leon Cow Camp, while the network of named grazing grounds such as Sheep Flats, Swede Flats, and Kirkendall Flats suggests a long history of local livestock operations. A solitary Gaging Sta on Leon Creek near The Meadows further emphasizes the systematic monitoring of the area's vital runoff before it reaches the lower valleys. This map provides a clear record of the working landscape on the The Flat Tops during the 1950s.