You never even called me by my name
By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com
Names have power, for sure. In Colorado, they may really reflect who had the most power at time of origin. Because, once you let someone start calling something, it can be difficult to change. As W.C. Fields pointed out.
"It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.”
One of the oldest names recorded in Colorado, (if you don't employ an ancient Native American tongue) happens to appear on the state itself. "Colorado," as the Spanish explorer Don Juan Onate labeled the big red river in 1604, of course means red river in Spanish.
In Northern Colorado, if you are a town in Weld, Larimer, or Boulder County, you could be named after a person, place or thing.
Lists developed in the 1930s by Colorado Writers Project, an outgrowth of the Works Progress Administration (a federally funded to help stimulate the economy after the depression) began appearing in The Colorado Magazine, published by the State Historical Association starting in January, 1940.
From that effort, the lists included place names across the state, (even places that no longer existed) and the documented origins from that little-known effort resulted in several Colorado Place Names books over the years, including a very strong and well-researched volume by Geo. R. Eicher, labeled that, "Colorado Place Names," and dropped on public scene in 1977.
"The origins recorded by the WPA writers were based on personal recollections of early settlers or residents and/or their descendants, from correspondence with local officials (frequently postmasters) and incomplete records and notes," wrote Eicher at the time.
"Therefore, many many origins given are open to question: often two or more versions exist."
Given that ambiguity, following are some Northern Colorado origin stories from Eicher, the WPA project, and The Colorado Magazine.
Ault: Established 1888, Incorporated 1904. For Alexander Ault, pioneer miller of Fort Collins. Ault purchased the entire crop raised in the area for many years before grain storage facilities were available. The name was selected when a post office was established in 1904.
Allenspark: Established 1870?
Named for an early settler in the area, Alonzo Allen, homesteaded in the area in 1859. The first post office was built in the 1870s and destroyed by fire in 1894. A later one was built two miles from the original.
Bellvue: Established 1882. A combination of the french words "belle" meaning beautiful and "vue,"meaning view. Founder Jacob Fowler was one of the first to show that fruit could successfully be grown in Colorado.
Berthoud: Established 1877, Incorporated in 1888. Capt. Edward L. Berthoud, was the chief civil engineer on the Colorado Central Railroad when the line reached here. He was also the discoverer of Berthous Pass. A settlement know as Little Thompson opened a post office in the spring of 1875.
Berts Corner: Established about 1935, named for Bert Foote, who operated a filling station and had tourist cabins in 1930s. It is possible a filing station was here prior to Foote's. A long sweeping curve on Highway 287 into Berthoud was constructed in 1936.
Boulder: Established 1859, Incorporated 1871. Gold seeker came here in fall of 1858. Settlement was an outgrowth of mining activity in the mountains to the west. The name is said to come from the profusion of boulders in the vicinity.
Buckingham: Established 1888. For C.D. Buckingham, superintendent of the McCook division of the Burlington Railroad. He surveyed and platted the townsite.
Campion: Established 1907. For John E. Campion, and engineer and surveyor for Colorado Central Railroad. Town was settled by members of the Seventh Day Adventists, who started the Campion Academy, a co-educational boarding school.
Carr: Established 1872. For Robert e. Carr, associated with Territorial Governor John Evans, who completed this section o Union Pacific Railroad. Carr later became president of the Kansas-Pacific Railroad.
Dacono: Established 1906. Incorporated 1908. First established as a coal mine by C.L. Baum. As production increased, a settlement grew around the mine. Baum named the village Dacono, a word coined from the first two letters of his wife's name, Daisy, and from the corresponding letters of two of her firiends: Cora Van Voorhies, and Nona Brooks.
Drake: Established 1902? Named for StateSen. William A. Drake, who represented the district from 1903 to 1907, and help establish the Post Office in 1905. Locally known as The Forks, at the junction of the North Fork of the Big Thompson and the main stream.
Eaton: Established 1888, Incorporated 1892. For Benjamin H. Eaton, fourth Governor of Colorado, and prominent builder of irrigation projects, and founder of the town. First called Eatonton to avoid conflict with Easton in El Paso County.
Eldora: Established 1896. Gold mining camp first called Eldorado. (Spanish for "The Golden.") When applying for Post Office, prior claim from Eldorado Springs, and current version was used.
Eldorado Springs: Established 1904. Thermal springs were probably named for their location in midst of highly mineralized district. A legend of Spanish explorers was that that an Indian ruler's customwas to daily gild his body with gold dust, washing it off in the lake near his swelling. This mythical potentate, "El Dorado," in time became used for regions rich in gold.
Erie: Established 1871, Incorporated 1885. Founded as a coal mining camp, taking its name from Erie, Pa.
Estes Park: Established 1905, Incorporated 1917. Earlier known as Estes Park Village, first named for first permanent resident Joel Estes, who came to Estes Park in 1859 and built a cabin on Fish Creek.
Evans: Established 1869, Incorporated 1885. Laid out by the Denver Pacific Rail Road and named for the second Territorial Governor, John Evans (1862-65). He was leader in the financing and construction of the railroad and earlier founded Northwester University, at Evanston, Ill., (named for him). In 1864, he was a founder of University of Denver.
Fort Collins: Established 1872, Incorporated 1883. Started as an Army camp in 1864 with two companies from the 11th Ohio Volunteer Calvary from Fort Laramie, Wyo. The site was called Camp Collins in honor of Col. W.O. Collins, commander at Fort Laramie. Later the post became known as Fort Collins. The settlement that grew up around the post, kept the name after the military abandoned.
Fort Lupton: Established 1882, Incorporated 1890. Founded by Lancaster P. Lupton, a lieutenant in the expedition of Henry Dodge to the Rocky Mountains in 1835. Lupton took leave of the Army and established a trading post in 1836 or 1837, first calling it Fort Lancaster. The post was abandoned in the 1840s, but later the adobe building was used as a stage station on the mail express route from Denver to Missouri.
Frederick: Established 1907, Incorporated 1908. Named for Frederick A. Clark, owner of the townsite land. Founded by three women, Mary M. Clark, Maud Clark Reynolds, and Mary Clark Steele.
Galeton: Established 1909.
When the Union Pacific Railroad constructed a branch here, it chose Gale as the name for the station. Confusion with nearby Gill prompted the change to Galeton. An earlier name was Zita. Probably honors a railroad official.
Garden City: Established 1935, Incorporated 1936. Name probably reflect name of nearby Greeley, "Garden City of the West." Earlier attempts to incorporate failed as the laws of Greeley prohibited sale of intoxicants, and it was asserted the purpose of this incorporation of the new town was to defeat the prohibition by providing a nearby supply.
Greeley: Established 1870, Incorporated 1885. For Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune. When his agriculture editor , Nathan C. Meeker, made a trip west he came up with a plan to create a colony and Greeley began promoting the idea in his paper. The Union Colony was adopted and townsite funded and developed
, and then named in Greeley's honor.
Grover: Established 1888, Incorporated 1916. Names by Mrs. Neal Donavan, pioneer settler, that gave it here maiden name. The first post office was called Catoga, and was about mile north of the present town.
Hereford: Established 1902. For the famous breed of white-faced cattle popular in the region. A Hereford Station was established by the Burlington Norther Railroad in 1886, just north of the Colorado line. In 1888, a post office was of the same name was created in Weld County. In 1902, Frank Benton named his ranch and a small settlement in Colorado "New Hereford," but "New" was later dropped. A town plat was filed in 1909.
Hygiene: Established in 1861. After a an early sanitarium, Hygiene Home, established by a drunkard preacher, Jacob S. Flory. A group from Pella, Iowa, settled near the present town and called the place Pella. A post office later was moved northeast and the settlemant was called North Pella. The Rev. Flory built between the two Pellas, and was the first postmaster of the town which absorbed the two Pellas and became Hygiene.
Jamestown: Established 1864, Incorporated 1883. While the post office was created in 1867, was called Jamestown, the camp was labeled Jimtown in nickname. Early on the camp was also known as Elysian park, because of its beautiful mountain setting. Jimtown is still used locally.
Johnstown: Established 1902, Incorporated 1907. Laid out by Harvey J. Parish, who named it for his son, John.
Keenesburg: Established 1907, Incorporated 1919. First known as Keene, for an area rancher, as a telegraph office and side track for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. When post office arrived in 1907, present name was used.
Keota: Established in 1888, Incorporated in 1919. Suggested as an Native American term, tribe not specified, and said to mean "gone to visit" or "the fire has gone out." Originaly homesteaded by Mary E. Beardsley, who sold the site to the Lincoln Land Company in 1888.
Kersey: Established in 1887, Incorporated in 1908. With the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1882, a section house and station was constructed and called Orr, in honor of James H. Orr, the first colonist to pay the $155 fee for Union Colony land. The name was often confused with Orr, California, and Carr, Colorado, so it was renamed in 1896 by Roadmaster John K. Painter, for his mother's maiden name. The first real settlement started in 1897, by H.P. hill and D. E. Gray.
Lafayette: Established 1888. Incorporated 1890. Named for Lafayette Miller, husband of Mary E. Miller, owner of the townsite land.
Laporte:Established 1859. First called Colona, it was the first settlement in the region.John B.Provost and and Antoine Janis, with a group of french trappers came from a trading post at Fort Laramie, seeking to establish a site further south. Post Office established in 1862. La Porte is French for the "the Gate" as the site is the natural gate to area northwest.
Loveland: Established 1877, Incorporated in 1881, and named for W.A.H. Loveland, president of the Colorado Central Railroad. The townsite was platted on David Barnes farm, who declined to have the town named for him. The name also graces 11,992 Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide.
Longmont: Established 1871, Incorporated 1885, named for nearby Long's Peak that honors Stephen H. Long. An old town of Burlington, founded years before, was merged with the new settlement. The town was founded by the Chicago-Colorado Colony, and the name was selected by Colony members in Chicago.
Louisville: Established 1878, Incorporated 1890
. C.C. Welch
of Golden discovered coal here in 1877. The boring was the charge of Louis Nawatny, who also owned the surface of the land. Nawatny had the town platted and his name was used.
Lucerne: Established 1892. When the Union Pacific Railroad built a sidetrack and station, for alfalfa and potatoes, the name by which alfalfa was commonly known.
Lyons: Established 1882, Incorporated 1891, Named for Carrie Lyons, Pioneer editior of the Lyons News. The weekly newspaper existed only in 1890-91. Town was platted by the Lyons Town Site & Quarry Co. Quarrying Superior sandstone was an early industry.
Marshall: Established 1878. One-time business center for the rich coal mining area founded by Joseph M. Marshall, who discovered the coal. Post office was changed to Langford in 1882, probably for N. P. Langford, president of the Marshall Coal Co., the settlement continued to be known as Marshall.
Masonville: Established 1885. Once, and important trading post, it was settled Benjamin, James and Joseeph Miller, and named for James R. Mason, a rancher who laid out the site when gold was discovered nearby. When the post office was created in 1880, to avoid confusion with anotherMaso, postal authorities changed the name to Masonville.
Masters: Established 1900. Named by John Barton, owner of the 4-Bar Cattle Ranch for his foreman, John Masters.
Mead: Established 1905, Incorporated 1908. Dr. martin S. Mead homesteaded here about 1886. In 1905 when the Great Western Sugar Co. built a spur and a beet dump, Louis Roman and Paul Mead, son of the doctor, founded the town and named it honor of the good doctor.
Meeker Park: Established 1900? Probably named for Mount Meeker, which is named for Nathan C. Meeker, the founder of Greeley.
Milliken: Established 1909, Incorporated 1910. In honor of John D. Milliken, president of the Southwestern Land & Iron Co. He was the founder of the Denver, Laramie & Northwestern Railroad.
Nederland: Established 1877, Incorporated 1885. Known as Brownsville in 1870, later as Middle Border, and still referred to as Tungsten Town. It was closely associated with the Caribou when it was purchased by Dutch capitalists, who changed the name to Nederland, prior to filing the plat in 1877. It means "low land" and was chosen because the Breed Mill, which cast silver bricks and was located below the Caribou silver mine. Caribou, recently a ghost town to west, was also at one time a booming camp to the west.
Niwot: Established 1872. Founded by W. T. Wilson and first called Modoc. It was changed to Ni-wot in 1879 for the Native American name of Left Hand Creek. The creek takes it name from Left Hand, the esteemed Arapahoe chief, who was befriended by early settlers and known for honesty. The original Arapaho spelling and pronouciation Nawat, later usage becoming Ni-wot and finally, its current spelling.
Nunn: Established 1904, Incorporated 1908. In honor of Tom Nunn, homesteader, who prevented a serious train wreck by flagging a train after he discovered a burning bridge near Pierce. As a token of its appreciation, Union Pacific Railroad built a house for Nunn. About 1904, when a switch was built by the railroad, John Peterson, section foreman, suggested it be named for Nunn. The town previously had been known as Maynard, having been laid out by Murry & Bancroft of Denver.
Pierce: Established 1907, Incorporated 1918. Long before there was a little settlement here, the Union Pacific Railroad built a switch and water tank on the site, calling it Pierce. The name honors Gen. John Pierce, former Surveyor General of Colorado Territory, and one-time president of the Denver Pacific Railroad. When the town was established by John E. and Bert A. Shafer, the name was retained.
Pinecliffe: Established, 1900? Named about 1900 by Dr. Craig, a minister, for an unusually beautiful cliff nearby. Settlement was originally call "Gato," spanish for "cat" or "wildcat."
Platteville: Established 1871, Incorporated 1817. Founded when Platte River Land Co. purchased several thousand acres in the valleys of the Platte and St. Vrain Rivers, from the Denver Pacific Railway & Telegraph Co. A central location, on the east bank of the Platte River was chosen for the town, which was named for the stream.
Poudre Park: Established 1915. Homesteaded by Thomas h. Farrell, and earlier called Columbine. The name is from the adjacent Cache La Poudre River, known locally as the Poudre. it refers to the cache of of powder by employees of the American Fur Co., who buried supplies — including several kegs of gun powder — near Laporte. The reason was reportedly to lighten loads of their teams enroute to the Green River. Poudre is French for "powder."
Prospect Valley: Established 1922. Settled by John G. Michael, and named for the Prospect Valley School, so called because it is reportedly one of the most fertile valleys in the state
Raymer: Established 1888, Incorporated 1919. Most of the district was vacated in 1893 and January, 1894, the site was again platted in 1909. The Licoln Land Co. named the town Raymer, honoring George Raymer, an assistant chief engineer on the Burlington & Missouri Railroad. Postal employees called it New Raymer to avoid confusion with Ramah, Colo.
Raymond: Established 1895? For family name and first called Raymond Ranch. Later called Raymonds. It was once an overnight stopping place for travelers from Jimtown via Gresham to Allenspark and Estes Park.
Red Feather Lakes: Established 1923. The resort town was founded by a Mr. Princell and named by him for Chief Redfeather, hero of the Cherokee Indian legend.
Rockport: Established 1926. Built on land owned land owned by Clark Coleman and named by Coleman for Rockport, Ill. where he once lived. The first buildings were of rocks, gathered locally. Arthur DePorter who was still living in hte area in the 1970s, said he helped Coleman haul the stones used by Coleman to build a garage and lunchroom.
Roggen: Established 1883. First known as Blair, but changed by the post office because of Blair, Neb. The name Roggen was given by postal authorities, but the source is controversial. One version is that it was named for one of the surveyors for the Burlington & Missouri Railroad. Another version has it that the name honors Edward P. Roggin, a former Nebraska Secretary of State.
Rosedale: Established 1939, Incorporated 1939. Platted as a 40-acre settlement on Greeley's south border, to circumvent "dry" laws of that city. Greeley was a "temperance" city until 1969. At one time, the nickname "Boozeville" was applied. The original plat by George E. Kenrick and his wife Rose Agnes.
Rustic: Established 1882. When the Rustic Hotel was built by S.B. Stewart at the foot of Pingree Hill, old timers called a stay in the mountain lodging as "rusticating" and "rustic" means a respite from ordinary demands." Teddy Roosevelt and U.S. Grant are said to have been among the "rusticators."
Severance: Established 1910, Incorporated 1920. For Dave Severance, who sold 160 acres of land to the Denver-Larimer Townsite Co. at the then astronomical price of $325 per acre.
Ted Place: Established 1922, by Edward Irving Herring — better known as Ted — when he returned from World war 1. A landmark for tourist going to Poudre Canyon marking the entrance to the canyon.
The Forks: Established 1875. For its location on Highway 287 where the road forks, toward Livermore. Started by Robert O. Roberts as a hotel for lumberjacks working in the area. It was also a stage stop on the Denver—Laramie route.
Timnath: Established 1882, Incorporated 1920, soon after the building of Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific Railroad, but apparently a nameless village until 20 years afterwards, when the Presbyterian Church was organized. The Rev. Charles A. Taylor, the first minister, named it Timnath. The 14th Chapter in Judges in Holy Writ states, "And Samson went down to Timnath," a Philistine city where he saw a woman he later married.
Virginia Dale: Established 1862. This was a favorite camping place for emigrant trains passing through the area in 1864 through 1866. The present community was built around a bullet-scarred stage stop, established by the infamous Joseph A (Jack) Slade. It was named by him for his wife, Virginia Dale.
Ward: Established 1865, Incorporated 1896. Named for Calvin W. Ward, who discovered a gold-bearing seam there in 1860, known as the Ward Lode. The Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad (known as "the Switzerland Trail of America,") made daily runs to Ward, the first of the camps in the iron-copper-sulphide belt.
Wellington: Established 1902, Incorporated 1905. Town was named for a Traffic Manager of the Colorado & Southern Railroad whose name was C.L Wellington.
Windsor: Established 1882, Incorporated 1890. B. H. Eaton, later Governor of Colorado (1884 to 1886) established a farm on the present townsite, in 1863. In 1880 the, the post office there was called New Liberty, and in January, 1884, postal authorities called it New Windsor. The town was later incorporated as Windsor, and honors the Rev. A.S Windsor of Fort Collins, a Methodist circuit minister.
Photo Information: Top photo Fort Collins, Old Town. Remaining historic photos precede Northern Colorado towns that follow them.
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