Pre-European Inhabitants
Paleoindian populations are known to have been in the Colorado Front Range as early as 12,000 to 8,000 years ago. These hunter-gatherers are known for their distinct stone tools, such as fluted points, which were used for hunting large game like mammoths (Clovis points) and bison (Folsom points). Evidence of much earlier habitation in North America was discovered near White Sands, New Mexico, in 2009. Human footprints were dated to 21,000 years ago. While no such evidence has been found locally, it is possible that people passed through or lived here much earlier than previously known.
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in New Mexico, the Utes, Navajo, and Apache were in parts of Colorado. It is estimated that the Utes arrived in Colorado from the west in the 14th century, while the Navajo and Apache may have arrived in the 18th century.
Population pressure, exploitation, and disease displaced many original inhabitants from the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions into the Great Plains, including Eastern Colorado. With the advent of the horse, many of these people adapted to life on the open plains. Cheyenne and Arapahoe peoples migrated to the Colorado region around the 1830s. Comanches, who spoke a Uto-Aztecan language, also mastered the horse and inhabited portions of Colorado.
European Exploration
Before the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in 1803, the region was claimed by Spain and France at various times. The Spanish launched several expeditions from northern New Mexico into Colorado to survey their territory, identify minerals, and pursue enemies. The earliest documented European in Colorado was Juan de Archuleta, who made his way in 1640 to a point referred to as “El Quartelejo” to retrieve Taos Indians. The location is lost to history. El Quartelejo may have been an Apache village on the Arkansas River, possibly near modern-day Pueblo. Following the Mexican War of Independence in 1821, Mexico retained New Mexico until it was ceded to the United States in 1848.
Many important explorers of the 19th century passed through the area. Kit Carson and Jim Baker, well-known mountain men, were frequent trappers in the area. In 1820, the Stephen Long expedition described Raspberry Mountain and many of the wildflowers never before cataloged.