Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Golden and Clear Creek

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 4, 2011

1. Golden and Clear Creek Marker

Inscription. The history of Golden reflects the history of Clear Creek. Eons ago, this creek, then a raging river, coursed its way through the mountains, cutting out the canyon and leaving behind fertile soil where an abundance of plants provided food for wild animals. The animals attracted trappers to the area in the 1700s. The river also laid down the placer gold to be found by gold seekers in the mid-1800s, and provide underground aquifers supplying fresh spring water for the future settlement of Golden.

The French first named the waterway “Cannon Ball Creek” because of the size and shape of the river rock on the creek bottom. In 1832, the name was changed to Vasquez Fork, also commonly called the Vasquez River, named after Louis Vasquez, a fur trader who built his fort north of the confluence of the South Platte River and the Creek. Around 1859, the people of the region began calling it Clear Creek because of the clarity of the water at that time.

Background photo: Clear Creek running through Golden. Courtesy Colorado Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.

Location. 39° 45.408′ N, 105° 13.358′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. It is on Washington Avenue Bridge

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, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Golden CO 80401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

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 the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Settler Farm Wife’s Initiative (here, next to this marker); First Bicycle Mishap in Golden (here, next to this marker); A Daring Rescue (here, next to this marker); Porcelain and Malted Milk (here, next to this marker); Fun on Courthouse Hill (here, next to this marker); Brewing on Clear Creek-Coors History (here, next to this marker); Gold (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 4 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Golden and Clear Creek Marker Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 4, 2025

2. Golden and Clear Creek Marker Wide View

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,165 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. 2. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.