Denver
Denver City was established in 1858 by a party of prospectors who struck gold at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. The city was named after James W. Denver, the Governor of the Kansas Territory and was promoted by William Larimer. In 1861, Colorado became its own territory after gold brought thousands of people west to find their fortune. Denver, which was then located in Arapahoe County served as the seat until it was divided in 1902 into several counties which created the Denver metro area as it is today. Denver became the state capitol when Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876. The early history of Denver is captured by Jerome C. Smiley in his book The Story of Denver or The History of Denver which was originally complied for the Denver Times. Smiley’s book gives a very detailed history of Denver and its regions. Beginning with the earliest geological formations, Smiley takes the reader through prehistoric man, Spanish and French exploration of the West, fur traders and trappers, the early settlers of the area, the growth of Denver, and finally Denver’s prospects for the future. In 2008, the Creating Communities grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) made it possible for a partnership between the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Department and the Clerk and Recorder’s Office in the City and County of Denver. The goal of this partnership is to conserve the historical records of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office while providing access to the public. The Library through this partnership has become the archive for selected election and marriage license application records from the Clerk and Recorder’s Office with a mission to preserve documents that have shaped the history of Denver. |
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The Denver Assessor Records are an incredible resource! We have digitized all 27 volumes and placed them on a map.
