Editing Gunnison County, Colorado (section)

==History==
Archeological studies have dated the [[Ute people]]'s appearance in the [[Uncompahgre Peak|Uncompahgre]] region of Colorado as early as 1150 A.D. Possibilities exist that they are descendants of an earlier people living in the area as far back as 1500 B.C.<ref>Wormington, H. M., and Robert H. Lister. ''Archaeological Investigations on the Uncompahgre Plateau in West Central Colorado''. Proceedings No. 2, Denver Museum of Natural History (Denver, Colorado, March 1956), p.124.</ref> They were a nomadic people moving about the Western Slope of Colorado in the various parts of the year.<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=11–12}}</ref> In the early to mid-1600s the [[Spanish Empire|Spaniards]] of [[New Mexico]] introduced the horse which changed their patterns of hunting taking them across the divide to the eastern slopes and into conflict with the [[Plains Indians]] which soon became their bitter enemies.<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=15–16}}</ref>

The first recorded expedition of Western Colorado wilderness was led by Don [[Juan Rivera (explorer)|Juan Rivera]] in 1765. In 1776, two Spanish priests, Fathers [[Domínguez–Escalante expedition|Escalante and Domínguez]], led a party into the area around [[Montrose, Colorado|Montrose]] and [[Paonia, Colorado|Paonia]].<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=54–59}}</ref>

The 1830s brought the mountainmen into the area to trap beaver. An old cabin located on [[Cochetopa Creek]] discovered by Sidney Jocknick was most likely built between 1830 and 1840 and a crude fort was discovered on a tributary of [[Tomichi Creek]] bore signs of a conflict.<ref>{{harvp|Jocknick|1913|pp=319–320}}</ref>

In 1853, Capt. [[John W. Gunnison]] surveyed the area for the [[First transcontinental railroad|transcontinental railroad]] route.<ref>{{harvp|Mumey|1955|pp=48–49}}</ref>

In 1858, gold was discovered near Denver bringing the white man across the divide into the western slope in search of the precious metal. In 1859 a party settled on Texas Gulch in Union Park.<ref>United States Forest Service Historical Records, Gunnison, Colorado, miscellaneous materials.</ref>

Placer gold was found at Washington Gulch in 1861 as part of the [[Colorado Gold Rush]].<ref>{{harvp|Voynick|1992|p=30}}</ref>

In 1861, the [[Territory of Colorado]] was organized. The territorial governor was made ''ex officio'' Superintentant of Indian Affairs. A conference on October 1, 1863, established a boundary line for a reservation.<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=68–69}}</ref> This treaty averted a possible dangerous situation by giving the Utes some cattle and sheep, a blacksmith and 20,000 dollars a year in goods and provisions. The government failed to fulfill any these obligations straining the relations further.<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=70–71}}</ref> The treaty of 1868 recognized Chief Ouray as the sole spokesman for seven tribes of the Ute People. He held this power over his people through diplomacy and understanding.<ref>{{harvp|Jocknick|1913|pp=117–120}}</ref>

The Los Pinos Agency was developed through the Treaties of 1868 and 1873. The first agent was 2nd Lieutenant Calvin T. Speer. In 1871, a cow camp was started near the present site of Gunnison with James P. Kelley in charge. In this year, Jabez Nelson Trask, a Harvard grad, relieved Speer as agent upon orders from Governor [[Edward M. McCook]].<ref>{{harvp|Jocknick|1913|pp=37–38}}</ref> In 1872 Trask was replaced by Charles Adams.

In 1875, orders from Washington to move the agency to the Uncomphgre Valley were completed in November.<ref>{{harvp|Rockwell|1956|pp=106–107}}</ref>

In 1876, Colorado entered the Union and '''Gunnison County''' was formed. 1879 was a year of expansion due to the miners, speculators and adventurers seeking wealth. The cattle industry was established by 1880. The short growing season was not conducive to farming and the ranchers had to level fields and construct irrigation ditches to water the fields for hay.