Do you remember what you were doing on April 9, 1851? If you're like most of us, you probably hadn't been born yet (by the way, if you were around, I would really like to meet you!) but if you were indeed up and about during the mid-19th century, you may remember the first permanent European-American settlement being established Colorado.
Here is how it happened:
Nicknamed the "Oldest (and Friendliest) Town in Colorado," San Luis de la Culebra, or San Luis, was established on April 9, 1851 in Northern New Mexico territory by Taos-area settlers. While these Hispanic settlers had established several other villages around the area, they were most proud of the land they acquired via the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant, which they later went on to name San Luis de la Culebra (in honor of the town's patron saint). While the town originally started as a New Mexico territory, it quickly changed hands to Colorado after becoming an official territory in 1861. Since then, San Luis has been the oldest continuously inhabited town in Colorado.
Did you know the story of San Luis?
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