Jefferson Territory facts for kids
The Territory of Jefferson was a special area in the United States that acted like a territory even though the U.S. government didn't officially recognize it. It existed from October 24, 1859, until February 28, 1861. That's when the Colorado Territory was officially created.
This "Jefferson Territory" was named after Thomas Jefferson, who was a Founding Father and a U.S. president. It covered land that was officially part of five other U.S. territories at the time: Kansas Territory, Nebraska Territory, New Mexico Territory, Utah Territory, and Washington Territory. But this area was very far from the governments of those territories.
Even though the U.S. government didn't officially recognize it, the people in Jefferson Territory elected their own leaders. This government ran things for about 16 months. Many of the laws they made were later used and made official by the new Colorado General Assembly in 1861.
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Why Did Jefferson Territory Start?
Kansas Territory's Big County
Back on August 25, 1855, the Kansas Territory created a huge area called Arapahoe County. This county covered the entire western part of Kansas, all the way to the Rocky Mountains. Most of this land was home to Cheyenne and Arapaho Native American tribes, with only a few white settlers.
The leaders of the Kansas Territory were very busy with a violent period called Bleeding Kansas. This was a fight over whether Kansas would become a state where slavery was allowed or not. Because of this, they didn't have much time to pay attention to the far western part of their territory.
The Gold Rush Brings Many People
In July 1858, something big happened: the Pike's Peak Gold Rush began! Gold was found at the Dry Creek Diggings in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. Today, this area is Englewood, Colorado.
This gold rush brought about 100,000 gold seekers to the area, which was known as the Pike's Peak Country. This region included Arapahoe County and parts of the Nebraska Territory, New Mexico Territory, and Utah Territory.
Miners Want Their Own Government
The miners were about 600 miles (965 km) away from the capital of the Kansas Territory. They felt that the Kansas government didn't understand their needs. They thought a new territory or state would be better at helping them. This new government would also bring together all the people who were spread out across four different territories.
Leaders in the Denver area decided to try two things: work with Kansas and also try to become a separate territory. They sent people to both the Kansas Territorial Legislature and the United States Congress.
On February 7, 1859, the Kansas Territorial Legislature replaced Arapahoe County with six new counties. They also appointed leaders for these counties. However, these leaders didn't get paid, so they never started their jobs.
The settlers in the region tried to organize a county on their own. On March 28, 1859, they held an election. But the people who were elected didn't take office because they wanted a completely new territorial government instead of being part of Kansas.
Meanwhile, a local representative named Hiram J Graham tried to get a bill passed in Congress to create a new territory in Pike's Peak Country. Even though the bill didn't pass, it encouraged settlers to try and set up their own government.
Creating Jefferson Territory
In April 1859, a meeting was held in Auraria to discuss the need for a local government. They chose the name "Jefferson" to honor Thomas Jefferson, who was president when the U.S. bought the land in the Louisiana Purchase. This purchase included much of the proposed territory.
They planned a meeting for June 6, 1859, to write a constitution for a "Jefferson State." On August 1, 1859, 167 representatives from 37 districts met to draft this constitution. However, the people voted against creating a state on September 24. They preferred a territory because the U.S. Congress would pay for a territory, but a state would have to pay for itself. So, they decided to hold another meeting on October 3 to write a temporary constitution for the Territory of Jefferson.
What Was the Proposed Territory Like?
The proposed Territory of Jefferson included all the land that is now the State of Colorado, but it was much bigger. It was about 70 percent larger!
Its southern border was the same as Colorado's current southern border. But its northern border was much farther north, about 138 miles (222 km) north of Colorado's current northern border. The eastern border was also a little farther east, and the western border was about 50 miles (80 km) farther west. The territory was divided into eight council districts and 19 representative districts.
Electing Leaders
On October 24, 1859, an election was held to approve the new Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson and to elect its leaders. The idea of a provisional (temporary) government was approved by a vote of 1,852 to 280. The following officials were elected:
| Leaders of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson 1859–1861 | |
| Job | Person |
|---|---|
| Governor | Robert W. Steele |
| Secretary | Lucien W. Bliss |
| Treasurer | George W. Cook |
| Attorney General | Samuel McLean |
| Chief Justice | A.J. Allison |
| Associate Justice | John M. Odell |
| Associate Justice | E. Fitzgerald |
| Clerk of Supreme Court | Oscar B. Totten |
| Marshall | John L. Merrick |
| Superintendent of Public Instruction | H.H. McAffee |
| Auditor | C.R. Bissell |
On November 7, 1859, Governor Robert Williamson Steele opened the first meeting of the Jefferson Territorial Legislature in Denver City. He told them:
Let us then enter upon our duties with a determination of spirit that conquers all difficulties: working for the benefit of the whole commonwealth, encouraging moderation and conservation in all our acts, that we may never be ashamed of having taken an humble part of the organization of a Provisional Government for the Territory of Jefferson.
During this meeting, the legislature created 12 counties. The Colorado General Assembly would later create 17 counties in 1861 that were somewhat similar. The legislature finished its first session on December 7, 1859.
Some settlers from eastern Kansas preferred to be governed by Kansas. These people held their own election on December 8, 1859, and elected Captain R. Sopris to represent them in the Kansas Territorial Legislature.
Governor Steele called the second meeting of the Jefferson Territorial Legislature for January 23, 1860, also in Denver City.
Population and Challenges
Many gold seekers who were disappointed left the region in 1860. The United States Census of 1860 counted about 35,000 people in the Jefferson Territory region. However, Governor Steele believed the total number was closer to 60,000, as many gold seekers were working in remote areas.
Governor Steele tried to work with the officials of the Kansas Territory. On August 7, 1860, Steele asked for the Provisional Government of Jefferson Territory to join the Kansas Territory. But Kansas officials refused to merge with what they saw as an illegal government. So, the situation remained stuck.
The End of Jefferson Territory
On November 7, 1860, Abraham Lincoln won the U.S. presidential election. This led to seven southern states leaving the United States and forming the Confederate States of America. These events meant there was no chance for the U.S. government to officially approve the Territory of Jefferson. It also meant Governor Steele, who was a strong supporter of the Union and against Lincoln, would not have a role in the new federal government.
To increase the political power of the states that were against slavery, the Republican-led U.S. Congress quickly made the eastern part of the Kansas Territory a free state called the State of Kansas on January 29, 1861. This left the western part of the former Kansas Territory, which Jefferson Territory also claimed, officially unorganized. Even though the federal government didn't recognize Jefferson Territory, it had effectively acknowledged the region's eastern border.
Counties of Jefferson Territory
On November 28, 1859, the Territory of Jefferson created 12 counties:
- Arrappahoe County, with its main town Denver City. This later became Arapahoe and Douglas counties in the Colorado Territory.
- Cheyenne County, which later became the southern part of Laramie County, Wyoming Territory.
- El Paso County, with its main town Colorado City. This became El Paso County, Colorado Territory.
- Fountain County, with its main town Pueblo. This became Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano counties in the Colorado Territory.
- Heele County, with its main town La Porte. This became the eastern part of Larimer County, Colorado Territory.
- Jackson County, with its main town Boulder City. This became Boulder County, Colorado Territory.
- Jefferson County, with its main town Arapahoe City. This became Jefferson County, Colorado Territory.
- Mountain County, with its main town Central City. This became Gilpin and Clear Creek counties in the Colorado Territory.
- North County, which became the western part of Larimer County, Colorado Territory.
- Park County, with its main town Tarryall City. This became Park County, Colorado Territory.
- Saratoga County, with its main town Breckinridge. This became Summit County, Colorado Territory.
- St. Vrain's County, with its main town St. Vrain. This became Weld County, Colorado Territory.
Capital Cities
- Denver City was the capital from October 24, 1859, to November 13, 1860.
- Golden City was the capital from November 13, 1860, to June 6, 1861.
Many of the government's daily tasks were handled at Governor Steele's home in Mount Vernon.
How Jefferson Territory Ended
On February 26, 1861, Congress passed a bill to create the Colorado Territory. U.S. President James Buchanan signed this bill into law two days later, on February 28, 1861.
On May 29, 1861, William Gilpin, who was the new Governor of the Territory of Colorado, arrived in Denver City. Most people in the region were happy to have an official government. On June 6, 1861, Governor Steele announced that the Territory of Jefferson was officially disbanded. He asked all employees and residents to follow the laws of the United States.
