Cheyenne County

History and Formation of Cheyenne County

Cheyenne County was formed on March 25, 1889, by the Colorado State Legislature from parts of Bent and Elbert Counties. The county is named after the Cheyenne people, who were indigenous to eastern Colorado.

Early settlement was driven by the arrival of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, which brought farmers and ranchers to the area, though they faced challenges due to unpredictable weather and early agricultural expansion.

 

Formation and Early History

Formation: The county was officially created on March 25, 1889, by the Colorado State Legislature.

Name origin: It was named after the Cheyenne people, who historically lived in and hunted across eastern Colorado.

Early settlement: The railroad was a major catalyst for settlement. As the Kansas Pacific Railroad (later the Union Pacific) laid tracks, towns like Cheyenne Wells sprung up, and ranchers and farmers began to arrive.

Agricultural boom and bust: The late 1880s saw an "agricultural boom" with above-average rainfall, which led to optimistic predictions for farming. However, a subsequent period of drought in the 1890s pushed many settlers out.

Key milestones

1867: The Pike's Peak Gold Rush brought many new settlers to the state, further impacting the Cheyenne's traditional lands.

1870: Citizens in the area began to organize and seek separate county status, but they remained attached to Lincoln County for a time.

1894: The Cheyenne County Jail was built, designed by architect Robert S. Roeschlaub.

Cheyenne People:

History, Culture, and Current Status

More Information

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