Understanding the past
what factors lead to the urbanization, growth, and/or decline of US cities?
Audience
Educators interested in expanding their use of digitized maps with students.
Lesson Focus
Participants working in groups will spatially analyze a specific given Colorado city to understand the past, present, and future by determining the environmental, , socioeconomic, political, transportation, and/or industrial factors that influenced the growth or decline of that particular city. Participants will research and assess one of these particular factors that might have influenced the city's growth or decline. Participants will use any primary and current research sources to discover the current concepts, issues, events, and themes from multiple, historical perspectives and resources.
Standards Assessed
GEOG. 6.1: Students know how to apply geography to understand the past.
GEOG. 6.2: Students know how to apply geography to understand the present and plan for the future.
Standard Addressed
Information Literacy Standard 9: The information literate student contributes positively to the learning community and to society and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
Assessment
Participants will analyze a Colorado city using online maps from various time period to determine the growth/decline of that city. Group discussion will follow.
Time
20 minutes
Materials
- Current maps of cities:
- Aspen,
- Boulder,
- Colorado City,
- Durango,
- Grand Junction,
- Leadville,
- Montrose
- "NARA Map Analysis Worksheets"
- Reliable internet access and a computer
Procedures
- Work with a partner sitting next to you.
- Pick a city: Aspen, Boulder, Colorado City, Durango, Grand Junction, Leadville, Montrose
- Review lesson.
- Find a current map of your city using Topozone.com
- Using the information discussed from earlier this session and the websites listed below, begin searching online to find one or two historical maps of your city.
- Study the maps closely and find similarities and differences in the various maps of the city.
- Use the the "NARA Map Analysis worksheet" for each map to help study the city more closely.
- Determine which of the five factors listed below you think related to the growth or decline of your city.
- Write some notes to help you remember these ideas for when we discuss as a group.
- Have fun!
- Political:
What was happening at this time in the US or the world? Who was mayor/governor/politically in charge at that time? Would these factors influence the city's growth or decline?
EX: Trinidad, Ludlow massacre/coal field strikes - Socioeconomic:
How was the economy at the time - booming or depression era? What were people doing at this time: exploration, cultural events, working, etc?
EX: Greeley - boom in agriculture despite the plagues, lack of water etc. - Industrial:
What was industry doing at this time: mining, westward expansion, coal mines, etc?
EX:Silverton, CO mining town booming at the time of the mines, now declined, except for tourism
- Transportation:
what was the transportation at the time? Was transportation what builds this city: water, railroads, car/roads?
EX: Grand Junction - river (called Grand then, called Colorado now), then agriculture & petroleum, now on I-70, a rest stop along a major highway. - Environmental:
What environmental factors influenced the city: health factors, outdoor activities, westward expansion, water (for mills), farming, good ranch lands, etc?
EX: Colorado Springs, CO - TB moved people there
Websites
Colorado Digitization Program:
- click the "Search" button
- search on the keyword "maps"
- or try the "Colorado & Western History" section and scroll to "CO cities & towns"
Library of Congress, Maps: Cities&Towns: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/cityhome.html
- Scroll down the page
- Click on "Panaramic Maps"
- AND/OR try "additional cities & towns"
Old Colorado City Historical Society: http://history.oldcolo.com
- A great site to explore if you choose Colorado City
