Research Corner: The stories behind Colorado place names

Have you ever visited a place in Colorado and wondered how it got its unusual name? Many places are named after prominent figures (Denver, De Beque, Flagler, Walden), while others were named by settlers for the places they left behind (Sterling, Kenosha, Englewood). Some were named for geographical or geological features found in the area. Or, in the case of Quandary Peak, things not found, where prospectors could not identify a mineral found in the mountain, they were left in a literal quandary. Still others honor Colorado’s deep roots, deriving their name from Indigenous terms or Spanish names already in use (Conejos, Manitou, Yampa).

For more stories about Colorado’s city and town names, check out the upcoming April issue of our Colorado Municipalities Magazine.

Here are a few names that might spark your curiosity.

Dacono (Weld County) — Named by a nearby mine owner, combining the first two letters of his wife’s name (Daisy), and two of her friends, Cora and Nona.

Ordway (Crowley County) — Named for Denver businessman George N. Ordway, who bought the land and led the townsite development. One story goes, his name, along with two other promoters were put in a hat, and his was selected in the draw.

Telluride (San Miguel County) — This area was home to three cities: San Miguel City, Newport, and Columbia. Newport became Pandora, while Columbia became Telluride. Telluride is named for the element, tellurium, however, the district of telluride does not contain this mineral. In light of this, some have said that the name is derived from prospective Telluride visitors being warned “to hell you ride!”

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