Colorado is a beautiful state in the Western region of the United States. Here is some information on the history of the beautiful area that draws tourists from all over the world.

When the European explorers first visited the Colorado region, they encountered several different groups of Native Americans. The Apache, Kiowa, Comanche and Pawnee roamed the Great Plains and the Ute tribe lived in the Plateau.

In 1540, Spaniard Francisco Vasquez de Coronado traveled through present day Colorado in search of gold. In 1682, Robert La Salle explored the Mississippi River and claimed the land surrounding this area for France.

Although both Spain and France had claimed the region, neither had chosen to settle in the actual area. This left things a little unclear and open.

In 1803, the United States acquired it in the Louisiana Purchase. Zebulon Pike then led an expedition all throughout the Rocky Mountains in the year 1806 which included Pikes Peak that is named after him.

John Wesley Powell was the first to climb Longs Peak and the first to explore the Colorado River. In 1833, the first permanent American settlement, Bent’s Fort, was built near present day La Junta.

In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain and claimed control of western part. The United States took control of the area during the Mexican American War between the years 1846 and 1848.

Until the early 1850s, the only Americans that came to Colorado were explorers and mountain men who were interested in beaver pelts. Later, in the year 1858, gold was discovered in Cherry Creek, near what is now known as Denver.

Nearly 100,000 people came to the region, but more than half went home when they did not find gold immediately. The great increase in the state’s population needed protection and a government nonetheless; so, in 1861, Congress created the Territory.

The Homestead Act gave pioneers free land out West and brought many farmers to the area. Irrigation systems were created near the mountains and railroads connected Denver to Wyoming and the East in the year 1870.

As thousands were drawn and coming into Colorado in search of prosperity, battles between Indians and settlers grew larger and more frequent. The Meeker Massacre was the last major battle in the year 1879; and the following year, the Indians were forced to move onto reservations.

It became the 38th state on August 1, 1876. During this same time, the United States was celebrating its 100th anniversary of independence; it thus became known as the “centennial state.”

During the late 1800s, silver was discovered in the area. Leadville, Aspen and Denver grew tremendously during this time.

As silver prices dropped in the United States, gold was discovered near Cripple Creek. Irrigation projects allowed agriculture to become the main industry.

New coalmines and steel mills began operating. The state’s first sugar refinery opened in Grand Junction in 1899.

Since then, it has continued to grow rapidly and tremendously during the early 1900s. The U.S. Mint opened production in Denver in 1906, and oil was discovered and became the state’s most important mineral by the year 1920.

In 1927, the completion of the Moffat Tunnel greatly shortened the time between Denver and Salt Lake City. During the Great Depression, farm prices dropped and many lost their jobs.

State and federal programs brought jobs into the state. World War II also helped the economy to rise by creating needs for oil and minerals.

Several government agencies established offices in Denver and the army opened Fort Carson near the springs. After the war, many large companies moved into the area and the suburbs continued to experience a huge population increase during the 1950s.

The National Bureau of Standards laboratory moved to Boulder in 1954, and the Air Force set up a large financial center in Denver while they set up the Air Force Academy as a campus in The Springs in 1958. In 1966, the North American Aerospace Defense Command also based its operations out of the springs as it built its structure 1,200 feet underground in the Cheyenne Mountains.

Water storage later became an issue, so many dams, reservoirs and tunnels were Kamagra jelly completed as part of the Colorado River Storage Project which also began in 1959. This project included power plants, reservoirs and water purification systems.

Since then, the area has only continued to grow. That is only part of the history of this beautiful area.

Author Bio: Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends things to do in Colorado.

Contact Info:

Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
www.thingstodo.com

Category: Recreation and Leisure/Travel/Destinations
Keywords: things to do in colorado