- Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory
The original Jefferson County in what is now the
State of Colorado was organized in1859 by the extra-legal provisional government of theTerritory of Jefferson . Its territory covered a broad swath surrounding the region of thePike's Peak Gold Rush , and was a functioning democratically elected government until the organization ofColorado Territory in1861 . At that time, the successor Jefferson County was permanently created, taking its name from its predecessor and incorporating the heart of its territory.County Territory
According to historical description Jefferson County occupied an area bounded by the
South Platte River to the east, the40th parallel to the north, Bear Creek to the south, and 10 miles west of Bear Creek to the west, encompassing territory in modern-day Jefferson County, Adams County, Denver County, Boulder County, Clear Creek County, and Gilpin County. The townsite of Highland at the eastern edge along the South Platte was excluded from its borders. Its boundaries were set in Chapter X of the General Acts of the Territory of Jefferson:The county of Jefferson: commencing at a point on the 40th parallel of north latitude where it is crossed by the main channel of the south fork of the Platte River, thence up the main channel of said stream to the mouth of Clear Creek, to the mouth of Ralston's Creek, thence in a straight line to the joint where the main channel of Montana Creek joins the south fork of the Platte, thence up said river to the mouth of the canyon at the base of the mountains, thence west eight miles, thence north to where said line would intersect the south line of Jackson County, thence east to the southeast corner of said Jackson County, thence north to the 40th parallel, thence east to the beginning.
County Seat
The Jefferson Territorial legislature after much debate designated Arapahoe City the county seat of Jefferson County. However, the decision of the county seat was ultimately left to its people, and
elections were held to determine what city would lead. OnJanuary 2 ,1860 the nearby town of Golden City won the honor, by more votes than the rest of the county's communities combined by virtue of its being the most populous city. According to the "Western Mountaineer" newspaper, which covered all of the county's elections, Arapahoe City was its only existing competitor, while protest against the government led 22 Golden City voters to instead vote for the town of Baden, apaper townsite . Golden City was permanently named county seat in a second election onJuly 2 ,1860 .Communities
Jefferson County's communities included four organized towns and other area settlements. Its first town, Arapahoe City was organized in
1858 just east ofNorth Table Mountain . Its second and most populous town was Golden City, and towns at nearby canyon entrances were Mt. Vernon and Golden Gate City. Other settled areas were Bergen's Ranch and Henderson's Island. In1861 Baden-Baden was officially settled as Apex. Of Jefferson County's towns, only Golden remains today. All other communities besides Arapahoe City and Apex were settled in1859 .Elections And Elected Officials
Jefferson County's first office holding official was J.T. McWhirt, appointed by Governor
Robert Williamson Steele in December 1859 as President Judge of Jefferson County. When the county's first popularelection was held onJanuary 2 ,1860 , area locals presented the Miners Ticket of favorite local candidates, including McWhirt as President Judge; Theodore Perry Boyd and Asa Smith as Associate Justices; Walter Pollard forSheriff ; Eli Carter as Recorder; Harry Gunnell as Clerk County Court; Daniel L. McCleery as Assessor; George B. Allen asTreasurer ; J.F. Rhodes as County Attorney; and Golden City as the county seat. This ticket won the election. The county's 2nd election onJuly 2 ,1860 designated Golden City as the permanent county seat. Jefferson County's 3rd and last election was held to replace departed officials onOctober 22 ,1860 , electing E.W. McIlhany Sheriff and John F. Kirby Recorder.ecession And Ni Wot County
Being an extra-legal government led some to actively question Jefferson County's legitimacy, and in early
1861 the citizens of the Junction, Mt. Vernon and Bergen precincts voted to secede and, ironically, form their own extra-legal Ni Wot County in protest. This led Gov. Steele and other loyalists living at Mt. Vernon to secede on their own and create a real town at Apex, and relocate Jefferson Territorial functions there. All of this activity was noted rather musingly by the "Rocky Mountain News " with the backdrop ofsecession activity taking place at the time elsewhere in theUnited States .County Dissolution
When Colorado Territory was organized in
1861 , both Jefferson County and rebellious Ni Wot County laid down their differences and acceded to the federally recognized government, which reunited them into the modern-dayJefferson County, Colorado .References
* [http://goldenlandmarks.com/museum/jeffersonian/jeffco1.htm Golden Landmarks History of Jefferson County Courthouses]
* "Western Mountaineer" newspaper, 1859-60
* "Rocky Mountain News " newspaper, 1859-61
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