For all of its amazing attributes, few of us really know how Denver came to be our most beloved of mile-high cities. There won’t be a quiz, but a little history lesson never hurt anybody.
James W. Denver, who was the governor of the Kansas Territory at the time, lent his surname to this, the capital of Colorado. Click here to gain a little insight into our city’s namesake.
Searching for Gold
Like many western cities, people came for the gold promised by the untapped mountains. In 1858 the came from all around and descended on what is now the Cherry Creek suburb of Denver. It wasn’t an undiscovered area, as it was a stopping point for trappers, but the gold kept the people here. The two small towns of Auraria and Denver combined in 1860 to become the Denver we know and love. The love was felt even then, and Denver was named the capital of what was then the Colorado Territory before 1870. This was even in spite of the fact that a fire in 1863 almost wiped out the entire town, and then a flood soaked the ashes less than a year later.
A Growing Mountain City
By 1890, Denver had a population well over 105,000 people. The railroad played a large role in the mobility of people, and as the railroads become fortified, many cities experienced a population boom. The Trans-continental Railroad didn’t lead straight into Denver, and the citizens knew that this could be the death of the city. They got together and created their own railroad company that connected to the Union Pacific Railroad at Cheyenne. By mid 1870s, Colorado was officially a state and Denver was officially its capital.
Finding the Silver Lining
Gold was eventually eclipsed by silver by 1890. Unfortunately, silver tanked in 1893, leaving many in the fledgling city broke. Luckily, they could rely on agriculture and continual gold discoveries to keep the city from complete financial meltdown. Seeing this boom-bust economic cycle, the leaders of Denver have contributed concerted efforts toward diversifying our economy. Their success can easily be seen by the wide array of industries supporting our stable present-day economy.
Denver’s rich and amazing history won’t be covered in one reading, but at least you know about its origin. Thanks to the rich reserves nestled in the mountains and the ingenuity of those first settlers, Denver has emerged to be one of the strongest and most diverse Western cities. For more information on our history take a field trip to the Colorado State Capitol Building. It’s fun for the whole family.
Like Us here on Facebook: