| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
The area was originally a part of Kansas Territory designated Arapahoe County. (There is now an Arapahoe County, Colorado in the Denver area.) In 1855, the Kansas Territorial legislature designated the Arapahoe county as the area "Beginning at the northeast corner of New Mexico, running thence north to the south line of Nebraska and north line of Kansas; thence along said line to the east line of Utah territory; thence along said line between Utah and Kansas territories, to where said line strikes New Mexico; thence along the line between said New Mexico and the territory of Kansas to the place of beginning." Jefferson Territory is described as being roughly the same area as the current state of Colorado, but stretching one degree further north and two degrees further south than the current bounds.
The Colorado Gold Rush had brought thousands of settlers to the area, sometimes called Pike's Peak CountryPike's Peak Country was the common name for what is now Colorado before the land was ever organized or widely settled. It was so named because Pikes Peak rose so starkly out of otherwise pancake-flat Kansas prairie—visible for miles around, it became the. The leaders of Kansas Territory were much preoccupied with the events of Bloody Kansas and the fate of their own state—little time or attention was available to attend to the needs of Colorado. Congress was equally uninvolved, so the settlers took it upon themselves to establish a separate state government.
A tiny convention was held in April 1859 in Auraria, Colorado about the need for a local government. The name Jefferson was chosen and a constitutional convention was planned for June 6June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. Events 1513 Italian Wars: Battle of Novara Swiss troops defeat the French under Louis de la Tremoille, forcing the French to abandon Milan. Duke, 1859. The conventioneers met that day, and then adjourned until August 1Some entries on this page have been duplicates from June 28. The correct dates for such events need to be determined. August 1st is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. Events 527 Justinian I, 1859, when 37 district representatives met to draft a constitution for the State of Jefferson, which was subsequently rejected in a popular referendum on September 24September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). There are 98 days remaining. Events 622 Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina 1493 Christopher Columbus departs on his second expedition to the New World 1664 Netherlands surren. The original authors determined to hold another convention on October 3October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in Leap years). There are 89 days remaining in the year. Events 2333 BC Legendary date of the establishment of the Kingdom of Chosun ( Korea) 42 BC First Battle of Philippi: The Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octav, and drafted a provisional constitution for the Territory of Jefferson, named in honor of Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Other images: (, , ) Order 3rd President Term of Office Monday, March 4, 1801 Thursday, March 3, 1809 Followed John Adams Succeeded by James Madison Date of Birth April 13, 1743 Place of Birth Shadwell, Virginia Date of Death Tuesday, Jul.
The leaders of the provisional Territory of Jefferson government were elected on October 24, 1859 and included a governor ( Robert Williamson Steele ), secretary, auditor, treasurer, attorney general, clerk supreme court, chief justice, associate justices, marshal and superintendent of public instruction. The territory was divided into eight council districts and 19 representative districts, and the territorial legislature met for the first time on November 7 and adjourned on December 7. During this meeting, the provisional territorial legislature organized 12 counties, including Jefferson County. (The official Colorado Territorial legislature would later organize 17 original counties.)
Those resistant to the self-government of Jefferson Territory held an election on December 8, 1859 and elected a representative to the Kansas Territorial Legislature from Arapahoe County.
Approximately 35,000 lived in the area of Jefferson Territory (still considered Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory as far as U.S. Census enumerators were concerned) in 1860.