11 juin 2018

A Sneak Preview Of Some Of The Highly Historic Towns Colorado

By Walter Graham


Many Americans are aware of the fact that Colorado joined the union as one of the last states. History records show that its year of admission was 1876, far later than many others. This notwithstanding, the state is douched with history. The following are a couple of highly historic towns Colorado.

Archives record San Luis as being the first town to be established within the whole state. The Tao people are credited with its establishment in 1851. When this happened, it was placed under the administration of New Mexico. This went on for a few years till 1861, when territorial adjustments were made and its administration was shifted to the present jurisdiction.

The beginning of 1858 saw the establishment of another town called Boulder. There were few buildings during its first year, but more structures, including schools, were put up during the subsequent years. The same period also saw the construction of a very important railroad.

Today, one of the best mountain destinations within the state is Leadville. During its establishment, it was resided by miners who believed the area had vast gold reserves. As a matter of fact, its original name was the Oro City, meaning gold. Its original settlers arrived during the 1859 gold rush.

Despite their best efforts, the ore was never found, leading to a mass exodus from the town. The settlers who chose to remain would soon discover a different mineral. In the coming years, they uncovered vast deposits of silver embedded in the locally available cerussite, a mineral based on lead. This explains where the area got its name.

Another noteworthy settlement is Idaho Springs. An extensive gold reserve was discovered in it when the gold rush was at its peak. The largest mill that was used then, the Argo, is still on site. Its key function was to mine and process gold.

Como is another town that is also endeared by the locals for its steep history. Its first settlers came to work as coal miners in 1879. They were Italians from Como, Italy, hence the name given to the settlement. When mining operations were at a peak, the area had a huge depot that served the Denver, South Park and Pacific railroad. Surprisingly, the roadhouse has remained unchanged thus far.

Black Hawk is significantly historic as well. It blossomed as a result of gold mining, just as many other towns in the state did. Its mineral output was significant. Its first settlers arrived in 1859, with many of them buoyed by the prospect of earning a living off mining. A large percentage of them would later leave after the depletion of the ore reserves.

Nowadays, it has a unique reputation for gambling. Casinos started coming up by the day in the early 1990s, and the tide has never stopped till date. Another town renowned for gambling, Central City, lies a short distance from Black Hawk. If you have a keen interest in American history, set a date to visit these areas at least once in your lifetime.




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