Editing Montrose, Colorado (section)

==History==
Montrose was incorporated on May 2, 1882, and named after the [[James Graham, Marquis of Montrose|Marquis of Montrose]], immortalized in [[Sir Walter Scott|Sir Walter Scott's]] novel ''[[A Legend of Montrose]]'' by Oliver D. "Pappy" Loutzenhizer and Joseph Selig. The [[Denver & Rio Grande]] [[railroad]] was built west toward [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]] and reached Montrose later in 1882, and the town became an important regional shipping center. A branch railroad line served the mineral-rich [[San Juan Mountains]] to the south.

In 1909, the U.S. government completed construction of the [[Gunnison Tunnel]], located east of Montrose.  It provided irrigation water from the [[Gunnison River]] in the [[Black Canyon of the Gunnison|Black Canyon]] to the [[Uncompahgre Valley]], helping turn Montrose into an agricultural hub. The Uncompahgre Project is one of the oldest of those in the area by the U.S. [[Bureau of Reclamation]].