COLORADO
It is said that Colorado was named for the great river that raises in the snow banks of her western slope. It is a Spanish word meaning "red", bestowed upon the river by Spanish explorers a century before it was applied to the Colorado Territory. Click on the underlined word for more information from the Colorado State website. Use your back arrow to return to this page.
Early Spanish explorers passing through Mexico heard the natives telling tales of cities of gold and silver to the north. To find these precious metals, many of these fortune hunters traveled northward, some coming into sections of what is now New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. They were the first white men to see the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, the Rio Grande Valley and other wonders of the Rocky Mountain Territory. Escalante, a Catholic priest who tried to find a short cut from Santa Fe to the Pacific coast, came through there in the summer of 1776, but was unsuccessful in his quest.
By the early 1800s, the trappers and fur traders swarmed through the area seeking furs for the large fur companies of the eastern United States and Canada.
The first real settlers of Colorado showed up around 1858, making the state the last to be occupied by permanent settlers. Many were attracted by the early discovery of gold and other metals, but most who came were not all that successful, and stayed on to till the soil and build the ranges.
In 1859, a group of individuals voted to form the territory of Jefferson, but it was never recognized by congress. Because of this some of the counties have organization dates and records prior to 28 February 1861 when the actual Territory of Colorado was finally recognized.
There was a census in 1860 showing a population of about 33,000 men and about half as many women. At the time this census was taken, Colorado was still part of Kansas. Colorado was admitted to statehood 1 August 1876. It was called the Centennial State because it became part of the union 100 years after the formation of the United States.
Colorado has some of the most beautiful country in the United States. It also has an unusual climate structure. When crossing the Rocky Mountains, it can be snowing on one side of the mountain and perfectly clear and warm on the other. It is also the location of the Continental Divide, which is where the direction of the water flow from our water shed changes direction in its race to the ocean. If you travel there to do research, be aware of the sudden altitude changes. The constant altitude changes of going up and down the mountain roads can make you really sick. Take your time traveling and enjoy the scenery. Its well worth the trip
COUNTY FORMATIONS
Also in 1883, Ouray County was briefly renamed Uncompahgre County.