Park County

Images of America: Colorado

by Park County Local History Archives

Created in 1861, Park County is one of Colorado's original 17 territorial counties. It is named after South Park, which is the vast, high alpine valley at the county's center. By the time the first fur trappers and explorers arrived in the early 1800s, Ute Indians had long visited the area to hunt the mountain valleys and fish the trout-filled streams. In 1859, prospectors discovered gold along Tarryall Creek, ushering in a mining boom that gave rise to dozens of boisterous mining camps. Ranchers soon followed, taking advantage of the nutritious native grasses and raising cattle to feed hungry miners, often under harsh conditions. By the 1880s, the Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado Midland Railroads arrived, spurring the growth of new towns and opening new markets for Park County's minerals, hay, ice, lumber, and cattle. As mining waned, tourism emerged as a major economic force attracting visitors eager to experience Park County's authentic character and stunning natural beauty.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2015

Reviews

[Pj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great 'Images of America' (Colorado) book!
I thought it was a thorough look into the history of mining, ranching, transportation, timbering, towns/settlements, schools/churches, water, and recreation/tourism that took place in one of the first of 17 counties established in the Colorado Territory-Feb 1864 until Aug 1876 when CO became a state. (Colorado now has 64 counties)
I highly recommended if you are intrigued with the region called South Park, Guffey and Platte Canyon areas.