List of trading posts in Colorado

This is a partial list of trading posts that existed in the area of the present U.S. State of Colorado from 1828 to approximately 1868. The 24 historic trading posts in Colorado traded goods produced outside the region to Native Americans for furs, food, and locally made goods. Trading posts also sold goods to travellers and settlers.

A map of the United States when the Territory of Colorado was created on February 28, 1861.

Table

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This is a sortable table of some of the historic trading posts in Colorado. Select the OpenStreetMap link in the box at right to view a map showing the location these trading posts.

Historic Trading Posts in Colorado

Trading post Other names Current county Location[1] Elevation[1] Established Abandoned Status
Fort Uncompahgre Fort Robidoux Delta[a] 38°45′01″N 108°04′25″W / 38.7503°N 108.0737°W / 38.7503; -108.0737 (Fort Uncompahgre (historical))[b] 4,928 ft
1502 m[b]
1828 1844 Reconstruction[2]
Gantt's Picket Post Fort Gantt Bent[c] 1832 1834 No remains[3]
Bent's Fort Bent's Old Fort,
Fort William,
Bent's Picket Post
Otero[d] 38°02′26″N 103°25′46″W / 38.0406°N 103.4294°W / 38.0406; -103.4294 (Bent's Old Fort (historical)) 4,005 ft
1221 m
1833 1849 National Historic Site.[3]
Jimmy's Camp Jimmy Camp El Paso[e] 1833 1868 Nothing remains.
Fort Cass Pueblo[f] 1834 1835 No remains[3]
Fort Convenience Adams[g] 1834 1835 No remains[3]
Fort Le Duc Fort Maurice,
Buzzard's Roost,
El Cuervo
Custer[h] 1830s 1854 No remains[3]
Fort Vasquez Weld[i] 40°11′40″N 104°49′16″W / 40.1944°N 104.8211°W / 40.1944; -104.8211 (Fort Vasquez (historical)) 4,826 ft
1471 m
1835 1842 Restored and museum[3]
Fort Saint Vrain Fort George,
Fort Lookout
Weld[j] 40°16′44″N 104°51′18″W / 40.27889°N 104.8550°W / 40.27889; -104.8550 (Fort Saint Vrain (historical)) 4,764 ft
1452 m
1837 1855 Historical marker[3]
Fort Lupton Fort Lawrence Weld[k] 1837 1844 Reconstructed[3]
Fort Jackson Weld[l] 1837 1838 Foundation remains[3]
Fort Gerry Weld[m] late 1830s 1840s [4][5]
Milk Fort Fort Leche,
Pueblo de Leche,
Fort El Puebla,
Peebles Fort,
Fort Independence
Otero[n] late 1830s No remains[3][4][5]
Fort Davy Crockett Fort Misery Moffat[o] 40°47′10″N 108°53′40″W / 40.7862°N 108.8944°W / 40.7862; -108.8944 (Fort Davy Crockett (historical))[p] 5,374 ft
1638 m[p]
late 1830s [3]
Fraeb's Post Fort Fraeb Routt[q] 1840 1841 No remains[3]
El Pueblo Fort Pueblo Pueblo[r] 1842 1854 No remains[5][6]
Bent's New Fort Bent[s] 38°05′32″N 103°09′08″W / 38.0922°N 103.1522°W / 38.0922; -103.1522 (Bent's New Fort (historical)) 3,888 ft
1185 m
1853 1860 Foundation remains[6]
Fort Namaqua Modena's Crossing,
Namaqua Station,
Mariano's Crossing,
Big Thompson,
Miraville
Larimer[t] 1858 or 1859 1868 Historical marker at Namaqua Park[6][7][8]
Fort Julesburg Sedgwick[u] 40°56′35″N 102°21′30″W / 40.9430°N 102.3582°W / 40.9430; -102.3582 (Fort Julesburg) 3,514 ft
1071 m
1860 1861 [9]
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Maps

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Fort Uncompahgre operated in the northwestern region of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.
  2. ^ a b This is the location of the reproduction of the trading post.
  3. ^ Gantt's Picket Post operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  4. ^ Bent's Fort operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  5. ^ Jimmy's Camp operated in the unorganized territory of the United States until May 30, 1854, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Kansas. On January 29, 1861, the area reverted to the unorganized territory of the United States, but 30 days later the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Colorado.
  6. ^ Fort Cass operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  7. ^ Fort Convenience operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  8. ^ Fort Le Duc operated in the unorganized territory of the United States until May 30, 1854, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Kansas.
  9. ^ Fort Vasquez operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  10. ^ Fort Saint Vrain operated in the unorganized territory of the United States until May 30, 1854, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Nebraska.
  11. ^ Fort Lupton operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  12. ^ Fort Jackson operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  13. ^ Fort Gerry operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  14. ^ Milk Fort operated in the unorganized territory of the United States.
  15. ^ Fort Davy Crockett operated without authorization in the northwestern region of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.
  16. ^ a b This is an approximate location of the trading post.
  17. ^ Fraeb's Post operated without authorization in the northwestern region of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.
  18. ^ El Pueblo operated in the unorganized territory of the United States until May 30, 1854, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Kansas.
  19. ^ Bent's New Fort operated in the unorganized territory of the United States until May 30, 1854, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Kansas.
  20. ^ Fort Namaqua operated in Territory of Nebraska until February 28, 1861, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Colorado.
  21. ^ Fort Julesburg operated in Territory of Nebraska until February 28, 1861, when the area was incorporated in the new Territory of Colorado.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Geographic Names Information System". United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Jolie Anderson Gallagher (April 2, 2013). Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. PT8. ISBN 978-1-61423-903-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jolie Anderson Gallagher (April 2, 2013). Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. PT9. ISBN 978-1-61423-903-1.
  4. ^ a b Phil Payette; Pete Payette. "Colorado forts – Fort Huerfano". American Forts Network. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Glenn R. Scott (2004) [1975], "Historic Trail Maps of the Pueblo 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Colorado" (PDF), U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, pp. 4, 50
  6. ^ a b c Jolie Anderson Gallagher (April 2, 2013). Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. PT10. ISBN 978-1-61423-903-1.
  7. ^ From the Grave: A Roadside Guide to Colorado's Pioneer Cemeteries. Caxton Press. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-87004-565-3.
  8. ^ Jessen, Kenneth (July 26, 2014). "Spanish-Speaking Mariano Medina built a fort". Reporter-Herald. Loveland, Colorado. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  9. ^ Scott, Glenn R. (1989). "Historic trail maps of the Sterling 1 degree by 2 degrees Quadrangle, northeastern Colorado". United States Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey. doi:10.3133/i1894. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)