—Colorado was organized as a territory by act of congress of Feb. 28, 1861, from parts of Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah. The portion N. of the Arkansas river and E. of the Rocky mountains formed part of the Louisiana purchase from the French in 1803; the remainder was included in the Mexican cession of 1848. The first well authenticated account of the discovery of what is now Colorado is the record of Vasqnez Coronado, who under Spanish auspices commanded an expedition from Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1540. In 1806 the United States government fitted out an expedition for the purpose of exploring this region, under command of Lieut. (subsequently Major) Zebulon M. Pike. This expedition travelled from N. to S. in the mountain region nearly across the territory, and discovered the peak which has since been called Pike's peak from its commander. In 1820 another expedition, under command of Col. S. H. Long, visited this region; and in 1842-'4 occurred the celebrated exploration of Gen. (then Col.) John C. Fremont across the Rocky mountains. Before the commencement of the present century there is no record of any inhabitants in what is now Colorado, except in the S. portion, where a few Mexicans and Spaniards were settled. Besides these, before the discovery of gold, there were only a few American traders, hunters, and trappers in the region. Nothing definite was known of the existence of gold in the territory before 1852, when a Cherokee cattle trader discovered the metal near the mouth of what is now called Clear creek. The first person to organize a party to explore the mining district was W. G. Russell, a Georgian, who in 1858 found gold on Dry creek, about 7 m. S. of Denver. These discoveries were speedily known throughout the country, and about 400 persons had reached the mining region in the winter of 1858-'9. The first discovery of a gold-bearing lode was made by John H. Gregory, May 6, 1859, in what is now Gregory mining district, Gilpin county. The first act of the miners toward organizing a government was the erection of Arapahoe county, with Auraria as its county seat; soon after which, Nov. 6, 1858, they elected a representative to the Kansas legislature, and a delegate to congress, who was instructed to urge the separation of this district from Kansas, and the organization of a new territory. In the autumn of 1859 a convention of 128 members assembled at Denver, which decided to memorialize congress for a territorial form of government. Within a few years a number of colonies organized in the east have been established in Colorado; the most important of these is Union colony, at Greeley, in Weld county, on the Denver Pacific railroad. Since 1870 the population has rapidly increased.
COLORADO, a S. E. county of Texas, comprising one of the best cotton-growing portions of the state; area, 905 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 8,326, of whom 3,701 were colored. It has an abundant supply of timber, about one half the area being bottom land heavily wooded, or upland covered with post oak, live oak, &c. The soil is fertile and well watered by the Colorado and other streams. The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado railroad terminates at the county seat. The chief productions in 1870 were 130,423 bushels of Indian corn, 14,442 of sweet potatoes, and 2,796 bales of cotton. There were 2,751 horses, 4,370 milch cows, 26,125 other cattle, 2,987 sheep, and 6,280 swine. Capital, Columbus.
COLORADO, a river of Texas, rising in Bexar district, between the 32d and 33d parallels, about lon. 102° W. It flows successively S. E., E., S., and again S. E., and empties into Matagorda bay. Its length is over 900 m.; average width 250 ft. The only important tributaries are in the upper part of its course, where it receives from the S. W. the Rio Concho, San Saba, and Llano, and from the N. W. Pecan bayou. In winter it is navigable for steamboats to Austin. It flows for more than two thirds of its length through a highly fertile region, and is a beautiful clear stream. It owes its name to an interchanging of the names of Colorado and Brazos, which the first discoverer bestowed on these neighboring streams, calling the present Colorado the Brazos de Dios, and the present Brazos the Colorado or ruddy.
COLORADO, Rio Colorado, or Colorado River of the West, a river formed by the junction of the Green and Grand rivers in S. E. Utah, about lat. 38° N., lon. 110° W. Green river rises in the Rocky mountains near Fremont's peak, in the W. part of Wyoming territory, flows S., turns S. E. through the N. E. corner of Utah, entering the N. W. corner of Colorado, then bends S. W. and reënters Utah, and afterward pursues a general S. course to its junction with the Grand. Among its tributaries are the Yampah or Bear, the White, Uintah, and San Rafael. Grand river rises in the Rocky mountains, in Middle park, W. of Denver, Colorado, and has a S. W. course. Its principal tributaries are the South fork or Gunnison, Rio San Miguel, and Dolores. Below the junction the Colorado flows S. W. into Arizona. Near the 36th parallel it makes a bend, and pursues a winding course in a general W. direction to the border of Nevada, whence it flows S., separating Arizona from Nevada and California, and Sonora from Lower California, until it discharges its waters into the gulf of California. The principal tributaries from the east are the San Juan in Utah, and the Colorado Chiquito, or Little Colorado, Bill Williams fork, and Gila, in Arizona. From the west the only noticeable affluents are the Dirty Devil and Escalante in Utah, the Paria, Tapeat's river, and the Kanab, from Arizona, and the Rio Virgen, which enters from Nevada. In many respects the Colorado is remarkable. Above Callville, Nevada, the river, as well as its tributaries, flows through deep cañons, the walls of which in some places rise nearly 7,000
