Fort Lyon, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Lyon, Colorado
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Counties | Bent |
| Elevation | 3,888 ft (1,185 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81054
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| Area code(s) | 719 |
Fort Lyon is a small, unincorporated community in Bent County, Colorado, United States. This means it's a place that doesn't have its own official town government. It has a U.S. Post Office with the ZIP Code 81038, but the zip code for nearby Las Animas (81054) is also used.
The post office in Fort Lyon opened in 1862. The community was named after Nathaniel Lyon, an important officer during the American Civil War.
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History of Fort Lyon
Fort Lyon has a long and interesting history, especially during the American Civil War. Many important events happened here.
Civil War Missions
During the Civil War, several military groups were stationed at Fort Lyon. These included the 1st New Mexico Volunteer Infantry, Reorganized, the 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, and the 15th Infantry Regiment. These groups helped keep order and protect the area.
McLain's Independent Light Artillery Battery was a group of soldiers with cannons. They served in the Union Army during the war.
The Sand Creek Massacre
A very sad event called the Sand Creek massacre happened near Fort Lyon. In 1864, U.S. soldiers attacked a peaceful camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho people. This event is a dark part of American history.
Protecting the Santa Fe Trail
Fort Dodge was another military post. It worked with Fort Lyon to keep the Santa Fe Trail safe. The Santa Fe Trail was a very important route for trade and travel across the American West.
German Prisoners of War
During World War II, some German prisoners of war were held at Fort Lyon. They helped build furniture and worked on local roads. Some of them were buried there.
Railroad Connections
The ghost town of Sheridan in Kansas was once a busy place. It became a starting point for goods traveling west on the Santa Fe Trail. A wagon road about 120 miles (193 km) long connected Sheridan to the Fort Lyon area.
Geography
Fort Lyon is located in Colorado at coordinates 38°05′48″N 103°09′07″W. This means it's in the southeastern part of the state.
Climate
Fort Lyon has a semi-arid climate. This type of climate means it's usually dry, but not a desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot. On climate maps, this is often called "BSk."
Notable People from Fort Lyon
Many interesting people have connections to Fort Lyon. Here are a few:
- Eugene Davis: A doctor who managed a Veterans Administration facility in Fort Lyon.
- Farmer Ray: A former Major League Baseball player who was born in Fort Lyon.
- Edward W. Wynkoop: He was a commander at Fort Lyon.
- Samuel F. Tappan: A military officer who served at Fort Lyon.
- Enoch Steen: Another United States military officer who commanded at Fort Lyon.
- Josephine Beatrice Bowman: A Navy nurse who was stationed at Fort Lyon.
- Walter McCaw: An Army surgeon who worked at the fort.
- William Nathaniel Thomas: A Navy chaplain who served at the U.S. Public Service Hospital in Fort Lyon.
- Kit Carson: A famous frontiersman who died at the surgeon's quarters in Fort Lyon.
- Laurice Aldridge Tatum: The USS Tatum ship was named after him. He served at Fort Lyon's Naval Hospital.
