Breckenridge News

South Park - A Brief History

In the center of Colorado, at an elevation of 8,500 feet, lies a beautiful valley, surrounded on all sides by majestic mountain ranges. The valley, lush with vegetation and supplied by water from the North, Middle and South Forks of the South Platte River, supported huge herds of game and colonies of smaller animals, such as beaver, muskrat, otter and bobcat. In the midst of this bounty, the Ute Indian made his summer camp. He successfully battled Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and Comanche for exclusive possession of his domain.

Colorado was explored in the late 16th and early 17th centuries by the French and Spanish, who established outposts for the purpose of trade with the Indians. The Americanized name of South Park was derived from "parc", the French word for game preserve.

In 1803, the United States acquired the vast wilderness of Colorado as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. Zebulon Pike was dispatched by President Thomas Jefferson in 1806 to explore the new territory. In an attempt to map the are, Pike's party penetrated South Park, but only marginally. Finding evidence, in the form of fresh campsites, that Spanish troops were still in the area, they elected to track the offenders and drifted farther and further south, only to be captured in the San Luis Valley and taken to Santa Fe.

Following Pike's release and return to the United States, reports of his explorations and the abundance of game drew the attention of hunters and trappers. Fur-trading became the first economic endeavor of the period, and was followed in the mid-19th century by the development of cattle and sheep ranching. The first ditch rights for agricultural purposes were recorded in 1861. By 1876, South Park was known as one of the principal hay producing regions of the state.

In 1859, gold was discovered in Tarryall Creek, and the rush was on. Hoards of gold-seekers spilled into the Park. Mining camps sprang up in every gulch and gulley. Soon, the hills were dotted with towns bearing such colorful names as Tarryall, Buckskin Joe, Eureka, Horseshoe, and Mudsill.

Latecomers to the Taryall diggings found themselves locked out. Disgruntled, they referred to the places as "Graball" and moved to the junction of Beaver Creek and the South Platte. They called their camp Fair Play and vowed to offer the same in good measure to all comers. The camp prospered, but soon the lone prospectors' stakes gave way to larger and more stable placer and hard-rock mining operations, which flourished for the next thirty years. During this time, the trades and professions moved in to provide goods and services to the denizens of South Park.

When the era ended, most of the camps were abandoned to the ravages of time and weather. Only a few, such as Fairplay, Alma and Como, with their more diversified economies, survived. Later, hydraulic and dredge mining, along with improved milling methods, were introduced and these communities prospered again. Down through the years, other minerals such as silver, lead, zinc and the concentrates were discovered and provided the impetus for subsequent mining "booms". Today, only a few working mines are in existence, but the importance of mining to South Park is evident all along the South Platte, from the tailings left by the dredges to the weekend prospector with his gold pan.

COURTESY OF: South Park City Museum

FAIRPLAY, CO

The Town of Fairplay is located in central Colorado within west central Park County, approximately 85 miles southwest of Denver and 85 miles west-northwest of Colorado Springs at the intersection of U.S. Highway 285 and Highway 9. Fairplay lies within South Park which is a broad valley covering over 900 square miles and surrounded by the Mosquito and Park mountain ranges.

Early French trappers and Ute Indians found the area a favorite summer camp for trapping and hunting and fur trading. By the mid-19^th century ranchers moved in with their cattle and sheep. Gold was discovered in 1859 in South Park and the rush was on. Gold and silver mining were the major economic factors for towns like Fairplay.

The mining district known as “Fairplay Diggings” was established in 1859. The term “Fair Play” came from the opinion that here every man would have an equal chance to stake a claim. This settlement was also known as Platte City, Fair Play and South Park City. Fairplay was the accepted spelling after 1874.

Prosperity in the mining industry influenced the westward migration of men, women and families which later gave way to permanent settlements, sturdy buildings, and amenities of home life. As Fairplay and other South Park communities became more settled, skilled services such as carpentry and blacksmithing were needed to build houses and repair equipment. Gold and silver were shipped back to Denver and Canon City as wagon roads and later a narrow gauge railroad were built to accommodate the businessmen and miners. Recreational outlets were provided by dance halls, saloons and gambling houses.

Fairplay became the county seat of Park County in 1867 that served miners, ranchers, local townspeople, and travelers despite economic ups and downs. South Park uses today range from ranching and mining to recreation.

ALMA, CO

The historic Town of Alma is a statutory town located in Park County. At an elevation of approximately 10,578 feet (3,224 m), it is the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States.  Alma, which took the title fromLeadville, CO, held on to the number one spot until 2006 when Winter Park, CO became the highest incorporated town due to its annexation of a ski area. Alma still has the highest developed municipality in the United States as Winter Park's claim to be the highest is due to their annexation of the ski area above the town and at the elevations above Alma's elevation the only development is ski lifts.

The town was named by a merchant named Mr. James after his wife.