Jefferson County was a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

of the extralegal

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Territory of Jefferson The Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861. The Jefferson Territory, named for Founding Father and Un ...

that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861. Its territory covered a broad swath surrounding the region of the

Pike's Peak Gold Rush The Pike's Peak Gold Rush (later known as the Colorado Gold Rush) was the boom in gold prospecting and mining in the Pike's Peak Country of western Kansas Territory and southwestern Nebraska Territory of the United States that began in July 1858 a ...

, and was a functioning democratically elected government until the organization of the

Territory of Colorado The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Colorado. The territory was organized in the w ...

in 1861. At that time, the successor Jefferson County was permanently created, taking its name from its predecessor and incorporating the heart of its territory.

History

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the

South Platte River The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River. Flowing through the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska, it is itself a major river of the American Midwestern United States, Midwest and the American Sout ...

Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory Arapahoe County was a county of Kansas Territory in the United States that existed from August 25, 1855, until Kansas's admission into the Union on January 29, 1861. History On August 25, 1855, the Kansas Territorial Legislature created Arapahoe C ...

. This discovery precipitated the

. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

and

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

, so they voted to form their own

on October 24, 1859. On November 28, the General Assembly of the Territory of Jefferson organized 12 counties: Arrappahoe County, Cheyenne County, El Paso County, Fountain County, Heele County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Mountain County,

North County North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second-most populous region in the county (after San Diego), with an estimated population of 869,322. North County is well known for its affluence, especial ...

, Park County,

Saratoga County Saratoga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York, and is the fastest-growing county in Upstate New York. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was enumerated at 235,509, representing a 7.2% increase from the 2010 popul ...

, and St. Vrain's County. Jefferson County was named in honor of

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

. Golden City served as the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Jefferson County. Golden City also served as the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

of the Jefferson Territory from November 13, 1860, to June 6, 1861. Jefferson County encompassed much of what is today

Jefferson County, Colorado Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 582,910, making it the fourth-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Golden, and the most populous city is Lakewood. ...

. The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but on February 28, 1861,

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

James Buchanan James Buchanan Jr. ( ; April 23, 1791June 1, 1868) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He previously served as secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and repr ...

signed an act organizing the

. On November 1, 1861, the

Colorado General Assembly The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado. It is a bicameral legislature that was created by the 1876 state constitution. Its statutes are codified in the ''Colorado Revised Statutes'' (C.R.S.). The ses ...

organized 17 counties, including

County Territory

According to historical description Jefferson County occupied an area bounded by the

to the east, the 40th 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 Boulder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado of the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 330,758. The most populous municipality in the county and the county seat is Boulder. Boulder County comprises th ...

Clear Creek County Clear Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,397. The county seat is Georgetown. Clear Creek County is part of the Denver metropolitan area. History Clear Creek County wa ...

, and

Gilpin County Gilpin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado, smallest in land area behind only the City and County of Broomfield. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,808. The county seat is Central City. The county was formed in 18 ...

. The townsite of

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

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 which declared:

That the territory comprised within the following limits, be erected into a county to be called 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 point where the main channel of Montana Creek joins the south fork of the Platte, thence up said river to the mouth of the canon 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 south east corner of said Jackson county, thence north to the 40th parallel, thence east to the place of 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 An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operate ...

were held to determine what city would lead. On January 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 Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden is ...

, a paper townsite. Golden City was permanently named county seat in a second election on July 2, 1860.

Communities

Jefferson County's communities included four organized towns and other area settlements. Its first town, Arapahoe City was organized in 1858 along Clear Creek just east of

North Table Mountain North Table Mountain is a mesa on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The mesa summit is located in North Table Mountain Park, north by east ( bearing 9°) of downtown Golden, Colorado, United States ...

. 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. In 1861 Baden-Baden was officially settled as

Apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe * Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe *Apex ...

. Of Jefferson County's towns, only Golden remains today. All other communities besides Arapahoe City and Apex were settled in 1859.

Elections and elected officials

Jefferson County's first office holding official was J. T. McWhirt, appointed by Governor

Robert Williamson Steele Robert Williamson Steele (January 14, 1820 – February 7, 1901) was governor of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson, which existed in the western United States from 1859 to 1861, when it was replaced by the Territory of Colorado. Early life ...

in December 1859 as President Judge of Jefferson County. When the county's first popular

election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

was held on January 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 for

Sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

; Eli Carter as Recorder; Harry Gunnell as Clerk County Court; Daniel L. McCleery as Assessor; George B. Allen as

Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The significant core functions of a corporate treasurer include cash and liquidity management, risk management, and corporate finance. Government The treasury o ...

; J. F. Rhodes as County Attorney; and Golden City as the county seat. This ticket won the election. The county's 2nd election on July 2, 1860 designated Golden City as the permanent county seat. Jefferson County's 3rd and last election was held to replace departed officials on October 22, 1860, electing E. W. McIlhany Sheriff and John F. Kirby Recorder.

Secession 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 The ''Rocky Mountain News'' (nicknamed the ''Rocky'') was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States, from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As ...

'' with the backdrop of

secession Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics le ...

activity taking place at the time elsewhere in the

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-day

References

Golden Landmarks History of Jefferson County Courthouses
* ''Western Mountaineer'' newspaper, 1859–60 * ''

'' newspaper, 1859–61

External links

Colorado State Historical Society website
{{coord, 39.59, -105.25, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-CO Jefferson Territory History of Colorado Jefferson County, Colorado Golden, Colorado