Colorado Territory

For the western film, see Colorado Territory (film). For the attempt to divide the State of California, see Territory of Colorado (California).
Territory of Colorado
Organized incorporated territory of the United States
1861–1876
Flag of Colorado Territory
Flag
Coat of arms of Colorado Territory
Coat of arms

The Territory of Colorado as shown imposed on an 1860 map of the Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, and Utah Territories.
CapitalDenver City 1861–1862
Colorado City 1862
Golden City 1862–1867
Denver[a] 1867–1876
 • TypeOrganized incorporated territory
History 
• Colorado Organic Act[2]
28 February 1861
1 August 1876
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Kansas Territory
Nebraska Territory
New Mexico Territory
Utah Territory
State of Colorado

The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861,[2] until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the 38th State of Colorado.[3]

The territory was organized in the wake of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, which brought the first large concentration of white settlement to the region. The territory was created during the onset of the American Civil War of April 1861 to June 1865. The boundaries of the newly designated Colorado Territory were very similar with those of the modern State of Colorado. The organization of the new territory helped solidify Union control over the mineral-rich area of the western Rocky Mountains.

Territorial aspirations

This paragraph is an excerpt from Jefferson Territory.[edit]

The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed in the Pike's Peak mining region from October 24, 1859, until it yielded to the new Territory of Colorado on June 6, 1861.[4] The Jefferson Territory included all of the present State of Colorado and portions of the present states of Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming. The people were desirous of a closer government than those five territories provided.

Congressional grant of territorial status for the region was delayed by the slavery issue, and a deadlock between Democrats, who controlled the Senate, and the antislavery Republicans, who gained control of the House of Representatives in 1859. The deadlock was broken by the Civil War in which enough Democratic senators from seceding states resigned from the Senate to give control of both houses to the Republicans, clearing the way for admission of new territories.[5]: 27  The State of Kansas was created on January 29, 1861 formalizing the separation of the western portion of the now defunct Kansas Territory. Three new territories were created in as many days: Colorado (February 28), Nevada (March 1), and Dakota (March 2).

Colorado Territory was officially organized by Act of Congress on February 28, 1861 (12 Stat. 172), out of lands previously part of the Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and New Mexico territories. The name Colorado was chosen for the territory after first considering Idaho.[5]: 27  It had been previously suggested in 1850 by Senator Henry S. Foote as a name for a state to have been created out of present-day California south of 35° 45'.

Abraham Lincoln appointed William Gilpin of Missouri the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado and he arrived in Denver City on May 29, 1861. On June 6, 1861, Governor Steele issued a proclamation declaring the Territory of Jefferson disbanded and urging all employees and residents to abide by the laws governing the United States.

The Colorado General Assembly first met on September 9, 1861, and created 17 counties for the territory on November 1, 1861,[6]

Civil War

Main article: Colorado Territory in the American Civil War

In 1861 following the beginning of the American Civil War, there were several small disputes and skirmishes between confederate supporters and union supporters. In August, Governor Gilpin organized the 1st Colorado Infantry.[7] He encouraged the business of Denver to help outfit the new army on the belief that the federal government would provide funds. After racking up $375,000 in bills and failing to convince the federal government to pay out the Denver businesses the people called for a change in leadership.[8]: 379  John P. Slough led the group to New Mexico Territory in February–March 1862. There they fought in the battles of Apache Canyon, Glorieta Pass and Peralta. Slough resigned in April 1862 and was replaced by Major John M. Chivington.[7]

John Chivington, commander of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry at the Sand Creek Massacre.

On March 26, 1862 John Evans was appointed by Abraham Lincoln as the second governor of the territory.[9] After Evans took the governorship, many of the debts Gilpin had incurred were paid by the federal government.[8]: 379 

John Evans with daughter Josephine, c. 1859

Anti-native sentiment grew during the Civil War years. Exterminationist ideology, led in Colorado by Evans and Chivington, advocated for the total eradication of all native people in the territory.[10] In response to their mistreatment, many bands of natives massacred and looted settlers and travelers around the territory. Black Kettle and Roman Nose were leaders in the hostility.[8]: 404, 405  Chivington committed the Sand Creek Massacre and Evans was forced to resign the following spring.[11]: 85  During the Colorado War natives succeeded in blockade which cut off communication and severely restricted food supply. Nearly every ranch between Denver and Nebraska was burnt and its occupants raped and killed.[8]: 414, 416  The end of the civil war changed the nature of the white struggle against the natives because soldiers came from the east with better equipment to build forts.[8]: 417 

Attempts at statehood

Many attempts were made to form a state governing the Colorado Territory. These began in the 1850s prior to the formation of Jefferson Territory and were thwarted for a variety of reasons until 1876 when Colorado became a state.[5]: 16–18 [12]

The United States Congress passed the Admission Act for the territory in late 1865, but it was vetoed by President Andrew Johnson. President Grant advocated statehood for the territory in 1870, but Congress did not act.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
186034,277—    
187039,864+16.3%
Source: 1860–1870;[13]

The Colorado Territory began as 95% male. By 1870 it was only 62% male.[5]: 44, 45  However, the war and subsequent mining troubles limited population growth. The population of 1870 was nearly the same as 1860.[8]: 391  Prostitution was common but sometimes led to animosity between citizens and brothels. Georgetown had five brothels in 1873.[14]: 47, 53, 57, 72, 112 

Infrastructure

Prior to the construction of railroads the state used wagons to transport goods and messages. These began as irregular services, but starting in 1861 several regular wagon lines operated multiple days a week.[5]: 40  Colorado's economy increased by approximately threefold from 1865 to 1871.[5]: 44 

Telegraph

The first telegraph line out of the territory began construction in 1861 and was completed from Denver to Julesburg, Colorado in October 1863. In 1865, a telegraph line through Fort Collins, Colorado reached Salt Lake City, Utah from Denver.[5]: 41 

Railroads

The economic boom of mining shifted the balance of power to the mining areas near Central City. In 1861, the towns planned the Colorado Central railway as a local rail network to support the mining industry. However the project was not started until 1865 and choose Golden as the hub.[5]: 43 

In 1867, John Evans and D. H. Moffat led a capital raise to build the Denver Pacific Railroad northward to Cheyenne from Denver. In June 1870, the rail line was completed which gave Denver an economic advantage over the other Colorado towns.[5]: 43, 44 

In 1867, the Union Pacific Railroad laid its tracks west to Julesburg, Colorado. The Union Pacific linked up with the Central Pacific Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, to form the First transcontinental railroad. The Kansas Pacific arrived two months later to forge the second line across the continent.

In 1871, William Jackson Palmer began the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad which connected Denver to Pueblo and beyond.[15]: 456  He founded Colorado Springs the same year. [16]

Banks

Only private banking was available in Colorado Territory until 1865 when First National Bank opened in Denver. Jerome B. Chaffee and David Moffat were executives at the bank.[5]: 47, 48 

Mining

Oil was first extracted in the territory in 1861. Kerosene began to be refined in Florence, Colorado.[15]: 322 

The mint value of gold extracted in Colorado through 1862 was $30 million ($968 million inflation adjusted).[5]: 36, 37 [17] However the industry was not nearly as profitable as the miners hoped and many were unemployed. Many returned from whence they came.[8]: 393, 394  The territory sought to improve the industry by creating a mint in Denver. On April 21 1862 the United States Congress authorized the construction of the Denver Mint.[5]: 47  The Civil War's strain on the economy resulted in stagnation.[18][19] Thousands left their placer mines which had quickly become unprofitable and became soldiers for $15 per month ($537 inflation adjusted).[20][5]: 36, 37 

The smelter, at Black Hawk, Colo, by Weitfle, Charles, 1836-1921

In addition to legitimate mining, others staked claims and then sold the rights to these claims as speculative assets to investors on the east cost. For the claimants this was sometimes more profitable than actually mining.[8]: 397  In 1864, news of the large investments in Colorado mines sparked an idea to pay off the federal debts incurred due to the civil war by nationalizing the mines. Naturally, the speculative miners opposed the scheme. By the end of the war, it had been settled that the mines would not be nationalized. The scare did not dampen investment as millions continued to flow into highly speculative mining companies. Some few operations turned enormous profits, but many turned into wild west stories of inept management and waste. In reality, the technology available was not sufficient turn reliable profits from gold and silver mining.[8]: 397–401 

Following the Civil war, stamp mills and smelters began to be used more frequently.[5]: 36, 37  However these systems were highly inefficient and many went out of business. Some individuals made a living panning the waste.[8]: 394–397, 399  Labor quickly appreciated in value with some miners making $5 per day. This may have occurred due to the large number of laborers needed nationally to build railroads.[8]: 432  By 1868, Central City was the hub of gold quartz mining with $50,000 weekly production ($1209 thousand inflation adjusted). As capital intensive production scaled up the number of miners in Colorado diminished but profits rose sharply.[5]: 36, 37 

Through the 1860s additional silver and iron deposits were discovered at multiple locations around Colorado. Coal began to be mined around Denver.[5]: 37, 38 

Legislation

The territorial legislature met on a nearly annual basis. The mountain towns lead most of the legislative decisions.[5]: 48  The only towns granted special charters were Black Hawk, Denver, Central City, and Georgetown.[5]: 61  Gambling was common and often violent. In 1865, the legislature ensured the legality of gambling.[8]: 428 

Territorial capitals

Three Colorado cities served as the capital of the Territory of Colorado:

  1. Denver City: from creation on February 28, 1861, until July 7, 1862.
  2. Colorado City: July 7 until August 14, 1862.
  3. Golden City: August 14, 1862 until December 9, 1867.
  4. Denver:[a] December 9, 1867 until statehood on August 1, 1876.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Denver City changed its name to the City of Denver on February 13, 1866.[1]

References

  1. ^ Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; Willard, John H. (1990). Colorado Post Offices 1859-1989. Golden, Colorado: Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation. ISBN 0-918654-42-4.
  2. ^ a b Thirty-sixth United States Congress (February 28, 1861). "An Act To provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). Library of Congress. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Ulysses S. Grant (August 1, 1876). "Proclamation 230—Admission of Colorado into the Union". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Frederic L. Paxson (1906). Francis Ramaley (ed.). "The Territory of Jefferson: A Spontaneous Commonwealth". The University of Colorado Studies: General Series A. 3. Boulder, Colorado: University of Colorado: 15–18. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r King, Clyde Lyndon (1911). The history of the government of Denver with special reference to its relations with public service corporations. Denver, Colorado: The Fisher Book Company. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "State Government History". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on August 23, 2003. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
  7. ^ a b Josephy, pp. 76–77, 82–85.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Smiley, Jerome C. (1901). History of Denver: With Outlines of the Earlier History of the Rocky Mountain Country. Times-Sun Pub. Co. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28.
  9. ^ "Governor John Evans" (PDF). History Colorado. pp. 1–6. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Josephy, p. 306
  11. ^ "Report of the John Evans Study Committee" (PDF). Northwestern University. May 2014.
  12. ^ J.E. Wharton and D.O. Wilhelm (1866). History Of The City Of Denver From Its Earliest Settlement To The Present Time By J. E. Wharton; To Which Is Added A Full And Complete Business Directory Of The City By D. O. Wilhelm. Transcribed by Leona L. Gustafson. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (ed.). Population of the States and Counties of the United States: 1790–1990 (PDF) (Report). United States Census Bureau. p. 3. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  14. ^ Jan MacKell (2007). Brothels, Bordellos, and Bad Girls: Prostitution in Colorado, 1860-1930. UNM Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-8263-3343-8.
  15. ^ a b Abbott, Carl (2013). Colorado: A History of the Centennial State. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado.
  16. ^ "William Jackson Palmer". The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. J.T. White. 1904. p. 8.
  17. ^ The total is much higher but this accounts for the gold that was sold rather than kept by individual miners. Smiley p.395
  18. ^ Leonard & Noel 1990
  19. ^ A. H. Koschman and M. H. Bergendahl (1968) Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States, US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 610, p.86.
  20. ^ Smith, p. 19-20.

Sources

  • Josephy Jr., Alvin M. The Civil War in the American West. Alfred A. Knope, 1991. ISBN 0-394-56482-0
  • Leonard, Stephen J.; Noel, Thomas Jacob (1990). Denver: Mining Camp to Metropolis. Niwot, Colorado: University Press of Colorado. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  • Smith, Duane A. The Birth of Colorado: A Civil War Perspective. University of Oklahoma Press, 1989. ISBN 0-8061-2180-7


38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (Territory of Colorado (historical))

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