Wason, Colorado

Wason
Extinct settlement
Wason is located in Colorado
Wason
Wason
Coordinates: 37°50′13″N 106°53′30″W / 37.83694°N 106.89167°W / 37.83694; -106.89167
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyMineral
Nearest townCreede

Wason, Colorado, also spelled Wasson, became the county seat of Mineral County, Colorado, when the state legislature established it on March 27, 1893.[1][2] Disagreeing with their decision, the Town Council voted Creede as the county seat in November 1893. To solidify the matter, a group of town residents went to Wason in the night. They dismantled the courthouse and took it with the county records to Creede.[1] The Wason town was located on Colorado State Highway 149, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) southeast of Creede and 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Wagon Wheel Gap.[3]

Martin Van Buren (M.V.B.)'s ranch, the first in the area,[1] built in 1871,[4] was the basis for the town of Wason.[1] He platted 80 acres and built a courthouse for the town near the Rio Grande River.[1] M.V.B. Wason established a toll road through the property. The high prices angered the travelers and the state bought the right-of-way through the property after a while.[4]

Wason was previously in Rio Grande County.[2] The town site is now Wason Ranch.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "City of Creede: Town History". cityofcreede.colorado.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  2. ^ a b Elliott, Donald R. (1999). Doris L. (Salmen) Elliott (ed.). "Place names of Colorado" (PDF). history.denverlibrary.org. p. 673.
  3. ^ a b Noel, Thomas J. (2012). Gabrielle Esperdy; Karen Kingsley (eds.). "Wason Ranch [Creede, Colorado], SAH Archipedia". Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.
  4. ^ a b "Mineral County". Colorado Encyclopedia.