Autobees, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Autobees
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Extinct settlement
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 Autobees
Location in Colorado
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Pueblo |
| Nearest town | Boone |
Autobees, Colorado, also known as Autobees Plaza, was once a small town in Colorado that no longer exists. It was an important place because it served as the county seat for Huerfano County, Colorado from 1861 to 1868. A county seat is like the main office town for a county, where important government decisions are made.
Back then, Huerfano County was much larger. It covered almost the entire southeastern part of Colorado! Later, the county seat moved to a town called Badito. Today, the land where Autobees once stood is part of Pueblo County, Colorado.
History of Autobees
How Autobees Started
The story of Autobees begins with a man named Charles Autobees. Around 1845 or 1846, he set up a small camp near the Huerfano River. This camp was sometimes called Fort Huerfano. It was a simple settlement that later grew into the town of Autobees.
Right across the Arkansas River from this camp was an old trail used by the Cherokee people. There was also a campground there, which is now the town of Boone, Colorado.
Building a Community
In 1853, Charles Autobees moved from Taos, New Mexico to this area. He built a ranch about two miles from where the Arkansas and Huerfano Rivers meet. His ranch was on a huge piece of land called the Vigil and St. Vrain Land Grant. This was a special land grant given by the Mexican government.
Charles Autobees wanted to create a community around his ranch. Many Native American and Mexican people lived and worked at his ranch. This growing settlement was also known as New Huerfano.
Life in the Settlement
The people living in Autobees were mostly farmers. They used special channels called irrigation ditches to bring water from the rivers to their crops. This helped their plants grow in the dry Colorado climate.
Charles Autobees also ran a ferry service across the Arkansas River. A ferry is like a small boat that carries people and goods across a river. Soldiers from the nearby Fort Reynolds often used his ferry.
Charles Autobees lived at his ranch until he passed away. Sadly, there are no buildings left from the original ranch today. Floods and other events have washed them away. However, there is a monument nearby that honors Charles Autobees and his important role in Colorado's history.
