Gold!

The Political Origins of Denver, Colorado

Issue #2 of  "The Capital Idea"

Michael Round

November 22, 2009

Gold!  The California Gold Rush!  The 49ers.  People flocked across the country to partake in that magical word.

Gold.

But there was also gold found east of California.  In the Rockies.  At Pike's Peak.  At the confluence of the South Platte and Cherry Creek Rivers.

But who cared about a little gold being found there, when there was massive gold to be found - in California?

The Rocky Mountain discoveries were unnoticed for years.  The California gold rush was just that - a rush.  Many disheartened prospectors limped back across the nation.

Some took notice of the Rocky Mountain rumors.

How does one stake claim to territory?

How might one ensure the territory becomes a vibrant community - a "county seat"?  If you were a gold prospector, it doesn't make sense you'd want to bring attention to gold territory.  However, if you were a land speculator, you would!

The Time In Context

Let's try to place this time in context.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 had just been passed.

The Kansas Territory established.

Slavery - or lack of slavery - was now up to the citizens of the territories.  There was no Colorado.

What we call "eastern Colorado" now was then western-Kansas Territory.

There was, however, a Kansas Territorial governor, appointed by then President James Buchanan, to govern the newly formed territory.

His name was James W. Denver.

Back to our original question: how does one ensure the popularity of a community - where there is little?  Get it named "The county seat".

That's what a land speculator from Leavenworth, Kansas, asked.  William Latimer, Jr.

You see, on November 22, 1858, Larimer arrived at a hill overlooking the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River.

Larimer staked his claim by laying cottonwood logs along a square-mile parcel of land on the hill.  Now the question - and answer:  "If I name this new area after our territorial governor - Denver - then likely it's to become the County Seat of Arapaho County.  If this happens, likely the area will become a point of attraction for settlers heading west.  Land values will increase."

That is:

Denver, Colorado, was founded this day in 1858.  November 22.

Of course, what Latimer couldn't know is James Denver was not the territorial governor at this time!  He had just retired as territorial governor, having been recently reappointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs (the position he held prior to being appointed Territorial Governor of Kansas).

So, the next time someone says, "Denver was named after James Denver of Kansas", kindly inform they're right - but only partly right.

There's more to ... The Capital Idea.