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This Economic Map of Colorado was produced as part of Ferdinand V. Hayden’s monumental Geological and Geographical Atlas of Colorado, the culmination of the most extensive and influential of the Great Surveys of the American West. Hayden, appointed head of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories in 1869, combined scientific rigor with a pragmatic focus on resource exploration, particularly coal, minerals, and other economically valuable land features. His expeditions into the Rocky Mountains were consistently supported by Congress and western development interests, making his surveys essential tools for settlement, commerce, and expansion.
The map, compiled between 1869 and 1877 and machine-colored for clarity, distinguishes major land types, including agricultural land, timbered regions, grazing areas, and mineral-bearing formations. A detailed legend at the right explains these classifications. It also documents a wide array of human and natural features: cities, towns, wagon roads, existing and proposed railroads, mountain ranges, rivers, and valleys are all finely illustrated.
While Hayden’s Yellowstone expedition in 1871 brought him widespread fame, his work in Colorado was arguably even more significant in terms of precision and long-term impact. His teams charted some of the most challenging landscapes of the American West, and this Economic Map of Colorado stands as a testament to that achievement—serving not only scientists and government officials, but also fueling the ambitions of settlers, miners, and railroad companies.
States
A second state of this map was published for the 1881 edition, with a longer Colorado Central Railroad and towns along it, including Berthoud and Loveland, a segment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and a proposed extension of the Denver & Rio Grande.
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, known to the Sioux as "man-who-picks-up-stones-running," stands among the pantheon of eminent geologists of the 19th century.
Hayden's academic career commenced at Oberlin College, and he furthered his education at Albany Medical College, where he received his M.D. in 1853. Despite his medical training, Hayden was primarily engaged in geology, a field to which he would dedicate his life's work.
Hayden commenced his geological career with a survey in the Nebraska Territory in 1856. In 1859 and 1860, he conducted further exploratory work in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado, which was then part of the Nebraska and Kansas territories. His early work in the field earned him the respect of Native American tribes, with the Sioux reportedly dubbing him "man-who-picks-up-stones-running" due to his avid and energetic collection of geological samples during his expeditions.
By the 1860s, Hayden had risen to prominence as a geologist and was appointed the United States Geologist for the Geological Survey of the Territories. This role would define his career, leading numerous surveys in the Western United States. Notably, from 1871 to 1872, Hayden led a survey into the region that would become Yellowstone National Park, and his reports significantly contributed to the establishment of Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872.
Hayden's most significant contribution to geological literature was the Geological Atlas of Colorado, published in 1877. This work was the result of comprehensive surveys conducted across Colorado, meticulously documenting the state's geography and geology. The atlas offered detailed maps on a scale previously unseen, encompassing not only Colorado but adjacent areas, including parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Hayden's influence extended to academia, as he was affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania for a period, where he held the position of professor of geology. His academic and field work combined to form a substantial body of knowledge that would be used by future scholars and explorers.
Ferdinand V. Hayden passed away on December 22, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His enduring legacy is reflected in the numerous natural features named after him, including Hayden Valley in Yellowstone and Mount Hayden in Colorado. His contributions to geology during the 19th century remain a cornerstone of American geological and geographical sciences.
![(Colorado Springs Photograph) [Original cabinet card albumen photograph of Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, looking south toward Cheyenne Mountain]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/87515.jpg)
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