Sunday, June 10, 2018

A Sneak Peak At The History Of The Most Historic Towns Colorado

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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.

If documented records are anything to go by, the oldest town within the state is San Luis. It was established in 1851 by a group of Tao settlers. Initially, it was considered as being within the territory of New Mexico. However, its demarcation was restructured in 1861, officially making it part of Colorado.

At the turn of 1858, another town named Boulder was started. The years that followed its establishment saw the putting up of many buildings within its surroundings, with some of them being schools. A crucial railroad was also constructed during the same period.

If you are ever in the state, you will hear Coloradoans talk of Leadville, a much loved mountain destination. The individuals who settled in it first did so in the hope of reaping big from speculated gold reserves. In fact, the locals used to call it Oro City, which simply meant gold in their dialect. All this happened in 1859, the formative year of the 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.

Also ranked among the oldest is the settlement of Idaho Springs. It is well known for being the setting for the first major gold discovery in the state. This was during the height of the gold rush era. The most prominent mill at the time, the Argo, still stands tall. Its original purpose was to extract raw gold from the nearby mines and process it.

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 an interestingly historic settlement as well. Like many other urban settlements in Colorado, its development is largely credited to the gold rush. During its mining heydays, it produced copious amounts of gold ore. Original settlers arrived in 1859 and primarily made their living out of mining. After most of the gold deposits were exhausted, many of them left.

These days, it is renowned for its gambling spots. The gambling boom kicked off in 1991 and has never slowed down. Central City, also renowned for gambling, lies close to Black Hawk. A visit to these places will certainly quench your thirst for knowledge and give you a feel of what life was like in the past.




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