1951 Map of Trinidad

About this map

The Purgatoire River—also labeled here as the Picketwire River—cuts a significant valley through this portion of Las Animas County, serving as the primary corridor for both industry and settlement. In the early 1950s, Trinidad stands as the regional hub, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and the Colorado and Southern railroads converge near Simpsons Rest. The landscape is deeply marked by the coal industry, with numerous workings such as the Baldy Coal Mine and Starkville No 1 Coal Mine (Inactive) dotting the surrounding canyons. Smaller company towns and residential clusters like Sopris, Starkville, and Cokedale are situated along the valley floor, supported by local institutions including the St Josephs Church and the Trinidad State Jr College. This era shows the area's transition, balancing established mining operations with the development of the Trinidad Reservoir and the expansion of the City Limits.