Mesa County History

In ancient times Western Colorado was a flood plain with a humid climate. It was home to dinosaurs whose bones are still an attraction for tourists and scientists from around the world. The first known humans in this valley were Fremont Indians living here from 250 to 1300 AD. The Fremonts were hunters, farmers and artists. Their pictographs and petroglyphs still fascinate visitors.

In the 1800s this area was home to the Northern Ute and Ute Chief Ouray was a revered leader. Two traveling Spanish friars named many of the region's mountains and rivers. The discovery of gold and silver drew prospectors and towns were founded to meet the needs of miners and their families. By 1883** Mesa County was created from neighboring counties and Grand Junction was named the County seat.

Today Mesa County is home to more than 120,000 people in 15 communities. The largest of these is Grand Junction, followed by Fruita and Palisade. Other towns and unincorporated areas of the County include Clifton, Fruitvale, De Beque, Collbran, Mesa, Mack, Loma, Gateway, Glade Park and Whitewater.

Grand Junction was staked in the early 1800s through a land rush settlement. It was first called Ute, then West Denver and finally, Grand Junction because of its location at the confluence of the Gunnison and Grand (now called the Colorado) Rivers. Grand Junction began to thrive when the main line of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad came into the area in 1887. Soon after, major irrigation transformed the Grand Valley into a fertile agricultural area. Today Grand Junction is home to a number of light manufacturing and service industries, three hospitals, a regional airport and a number of recreational opportunities.