1948 Map of Uravan

About this map

Uravan sits at the confluence of the San Miguel River and Hieroglyphic Canyon, serving as a focal point for postwar industrial activity. Published in conjunction with the Atomic Energy Commission, this 1948 field survey documents the intensive mining landscape of Montrose County during the early Cold War uranium boom. The geography is defined by high plateaus like Spring Creek Mesa and Long Mesa, which are dissected by steep drainages and dotted with numerous small-scale operations. Researchers can identify many specific workings including the Club Mines, Rock Raven Mine, and the Forty-five Ninety Mine. Access to these remote sites was facilitated by a network of unimproved routes such as Long Park Road and various unnamed truck trails. The map also captures the settlement at Hoyt and the hydrologic importance of sources like Horsethief Spring in this arid canyon environment.