Breckenridge History

Before the gold boom of the west, Breckenridge was the summer hunting quarters of the Ute Indians. In the 19th Century, the promise of gold drew individuals to the mountains of Colorado in order to strike at rich. Among them was General George E. Spencer.

In 1859, Spencer founded the town and originally called it Breckinridge after the current Vice President, John Cabell Breckinridge. Spencer had larger ambitions than to simply flatter the Vice President. His goal was to please the government in order to obtain the first post office in the area. The plan worked and the young town of Breckinridge was given their very own post office.

On the brink of the Civil War, John Cabell Breckinridge sided with the Confederates, much to the dismay of the mostly Union supporting citizens of the mountain town. This caused an adjustment in the name originally decided upon by Spencer. The second "i" was dropped and replaced by an "e" to form the city's current moniker, Breckenridge.

Breckenridge began to grow during the 1800s. Saloons, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments sprang up. With these new businesses, the population grew.

Although Breckenridge soon became the county seat of Summit County, the town was beginning to experience tensions from the Civil War and the decline in mining activity. As a result of these factors, the population decreased.

However, Breckenridge would soon experience another mining boom with the introduction of the large-scale hydraulic placer. This technological advancement allowed miners to remove rocks and sediment with water pressure. The discovery of silver and lead in the mountains of Colorado drove more ambitious individuals to Breckenridge. The town began to grow steadily.

Breckenridge had experienced a substantial mining phase from its earliest days until after the Second World War. Despite the mountains being rich with precious metals, the people of Breckenridge were forced into the Depression along with the rest of the country. These hard times brought about another decline in population resulting in less than 1000 people living in Breckenridge the first half of the 20th Century.

Around 1930, the fate of Breckenridge appeared tragic. The town had lost several important buildings due to fires, abandonment, or demolition for tax purposes. Soon, the mining town that had risen out of the dusty Rockies was no longer represented on the map of the United States.

In the 1960s people found themselves migrating to Breckenridge yet again. Instead of dreaming of dark, dank mines filled with glittering gold, visitors were drawn to the snow-white mountain peaks. This was a result of improved methods of transportation in the country and more specifically to the construction of the Eisenhower tunnel that created a shorter and more accessible commute from Denver to Breckenridge. Where once Breckenridge was a magnet for prospectors, by the 60s it had become a tremendous draw for the recreational set. Its beautiful outdoors in the midst of the Rockies have made Breckenridge a convenient and attractive ski destination and all around winter resort.