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

Farming

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 4, 2011

1. Farming Marker

Inscription.
Since 1859 Clear Creek has provided water through irrigation ditches to farmers east of Golden. Many such ditches were dug in the 1800s, including the Welch Ditch (originally Vasquez Ditch), Church Ditch (originally Golden City & Ralston Creek Ditch), Agricultural Ditch, Rocky Mountain Ditch (originally Table Mountain Ditch, Wanamaker Ditch, Swadley Ditch, Wadsworth Ditch, Croke Canal, and Oulette Ditch.

These irrigation ditches turned what had been called the “Great American Desert” into prosperous farming communities including Wheat Ridge and Arvada which are recipients of Clear Creek water. Crops included wheat, fruit, and carnations.

Picture: Waterfall at Lovers’ Leap, escape gate of the Welch Ditch, west side of Mt. Zion, 19th Century. Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Department.

Background: Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 39° 45.412′ N, 105° 13.37′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. It can be reached from Washington Avenue Bridge. 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Early History of Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); Settlement of Clear Creek Valley (here, next to this marker); Gold in Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); Tourism (here, next to this marker); Johnson and His Crew (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 4 (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 3 (a few steps from this marker); Settler Farm Wife’s Initiative (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Farming Marker Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 4, 2025

2. Farming Marker Wide View

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2012, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,172 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 23, 2012, 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.