Colorado City in Mitchell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Founding of Colorado City
From 1880 (when A.W. Dunn opened his dirt-floor, tent-roof general store) to 1890 the boisterous cattle town garnered notoriety as well as fame.
The largest community between Fort Worth and El Paso, Colorado City had more millionaires than any other Texas town and the most saloons in the West. Law and order was housed in a dugout at the edge of town, where a company of Texas Rangers made all men check their guns. Modest, courageous Ranger Dick Ware was elected first sheriff in 1881.
Population soared from 700 to 5,000 in the first two years, as cowboys, cattlemen, merchants, and (as a visitor said) "any number of bummers", vied for space.
The first sermon was preached in a saloon and the town "jail" was a chain attached to a mesquite tree, but citizens could find beauty in the lantern-glow from dozens of tents in the center of town.
Although drouth and the passing of the open range soon diminished Colorado City's glory, its first decade won for it the epithet, "Mother City of West Texas".
Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee . (Marker Number 5338.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 32° 23.413′ N, 100° 52.103′ W. Marker is in Colorado City, Texas, in Mitchell County. Marker is on Oak Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 349 Oak Street, Colorado City TX 79512, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mitchell County (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Mitchell County (within shouting distance of this marker); Colorado Opera House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Baker Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sites of Texas & Pacific Railway Depots (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Colorado City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Majors Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Texas & Pacific Railway (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colorado City.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.