History of Meeker & the White River Valley

History of Meeker and the White River Valley. . The Meeker area is rich in history , that of the Ute Indians, who were the first people in the area, and that of the white settlers who began homesteading, ranching, and farming here in the late 1800s., The county seat of Rio Blanco County, Meeker was an outgrowth of the "Military Camp on the White River," an Army base established to keep peace after the conflict between the Ute Indians and Indian Agent Nathan Meeker. This incident, which occurred on September 29, 1879, was the last conflict of the 1800s in which the military was called upon to intervene., Two of the original military camp buildings are now home to the White River Museum, located one block north of here. The museum boasts wonderful collections representative of both the old west and the Ute Indian culture. Historic area highlights include rural schoolhouses, battle sites, and petroglyphs. Self-guided walking and driving tours of the area are available at the Museum., The military presence ended in 1883, by which time ranching, farming, and commerce were already in place in the valley. These pursuits are what continue to sustain the community today along with energy extraction, tourism, and recreation., All photos courtesy of the White River Museum. , For more information, please visit the Meeker Chamber of Commerce at 710 Market Street. , www.meekerchamber.com