Howardsville, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howardsville
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The Pride of the West Mill in Howardsville in 2018
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 Howardsville
Location in Colorado
Howardsville
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | San Juan |
| Elevation | 9,748 ft (2,971 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 187646 |
Howardsville is a small, quiet place in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community. You can find it right next to the Animas River, where Cunningham Creek flows in.
This historic spot is about two miles from the town of Silverton. It's also about eight miles from the famous ghost town of Animas Forks. If you travel on the same road, you'll also pass other old ghost towns like Middleton and Eureka.
Howardsville's Early Days
Howardsville started as a mining settlement. It was first called Bullion City. The Bullion City Company created it in 1874. Later, its name changed to Howardsville. Some say it was named after Lieutenant Howard, a well-known person in the area. Others believe it was named for George Howard, who once had a cabin there.
Howardsville was very important when it was first settled. It was the original "county seat" for La Plata County. A county seat is like the main town where the government offices are. This lasted from February 10, 1874, until January 31, 1876. Then, San Juan County was created, and Howardsville became part of it.
Life and Decline
Howardsville had its own post office. It opened on June 24, 1874. This meant people could send and receive mail there. The post office stayed open for many years. It finally closed on October 31, 1939.
A railroad, the Silverton Northern Railroad, reached Howardsville in 1896. This made it easier to transport goods and people. In 1905, the tracks were extended. They went into Cunningham Gulch to reach mines like the Old Hundred Mine and the Green Mountain Mine.
The town kept going thanks to local mines and mills. Important ones included the Pride Of The West Mill and the Little Nation Tram House & Mill. However, when the post office closed in 1939, the town began to fade. The railroad tracks were removed in 1942. This marked the end of Howardsville as an active community.
