Near Cortez in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Colorado
(Four Corners)
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 21, 2010
1. Colorado Marker
Colorado Territory was created in 1861 for its gold, silver and other mineral resources. Its western boundary was designated as 32 degrees of longitude west of the Washington Meridian.
Colorado became a state in 1876. In 1878, U.S. Surveyor Rollin J. Reeves started from the Four Corners Monument and marked a line going north along the boundary of the State of Colorado and the Utah Territory, with a team of surveyors using a 66-foot-long chain and a transit/compass made of wood, glass and brass. The original marked line has been upheld in legal challenges over a more technically precise location.
The Four Corners Monument, first set by Chandler Robbins in 1875, has been replaced and upgraded in 1899, 1931, 1962, 1992 and 2010.
Erected 2010 by National Society of Professional Surveyors.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 36° 59.95′ N, 109° 2.709′ W. Marker is near Cortez, Colorado, in Montezuma County. It can be reached from 4 Corners Road half a mile west of U.S. 160. Marker is located at the Four
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Utah (a few steps from this marker in Utah); Arizona (a few steps from this marker in Arizona); New Mexico (a few steps from this marker in New Mexico); Four Corners A Common Bond (within shouting distance of this marker in New Mexico); Welcome to Four Corners Monument! (approx. Ό mile away in New Mexico); Beclabito Dome (approx. 11.8 miles away in New Mexico).
Photographed by Bill Kirchner
2. Four Corners Monument
View is to the east. The 37th Parallel is running from lower right to center of photo.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner
3. Four Corners Survey Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 21, 2010
4. Colorado State Seal
Photographed by Mike Stroud, June 1, 1994
5. Four Corners
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,390 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 4, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on October 5, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
