Welcome to the Colorado GenWeb Project! Formation of the State
Jefferson Territory was voted by the residents in 1859 but was
never recognized by Congress. Because of this, some of the
counties have organization dates and records prior to 28
February 1861 when the Territory of Colorado was finally
recognized. The first territorial assembly created the first
seventeen counties in September 1861. These were Arapahoe,
Boulder, Clear Creek, Costilla, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont,
Gilpin, Guadalupe (later named Conejos), Huerfano, Jefferson,
Lake, Larimer, Park, Pueblo, Summit and Weld. On August 1, 1876
(28 days after the Centennial of the United States and 15 years
after the territory was first formed), Colorado became the 38th
state in the Union, earning it the nickname, "The Centennial
State." Colorado is also known as "Colorful Colorado" and "The
Heart of the Rockies." The boundary lines of the state create an
almost perfect rectangle, measuring approximately 387 miles from
east to west and 276 miles from north