El Paso County, Kansas Territory

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A map of Kansas Territory in 1860. El Paso County was located in the territory's western panhandle, surrounded by Fremont, Montana, Broderick, Oro Counties. Kansas Territory (1860).jpg
A map of Kansas Territory in 1860. El Paso County was located in the territory's western panhandle, surrounded by Fremont, Montana, Broderick, Oro Counties.

El Paso County was a county of the United States Territory of Kansas that existed for two years from February 7, 1859, to January 29, 1861.

Contents

History

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County of the Territory of Kansas (now in the State of Colorado). This discovery precipitating the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. To provide local government for the gold mining region, the Kansas Territorial Legislature split Arapahoe County into six counties on February 7, 1859: a much smaller Arapahoe County, Broderick County, El Paso County, Fremont County, Montana County, and Oro County. None of these six counties were ever organized. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the territorial government, and they formed their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859.

Following the Republican Party election victories in 1860, the United States Congress admitted Kansas to the Union. [1] The Kansas Act of Admission excluded the portion of the Kansas Territory west of the 25th meridian west from Washington from the new state, and El Paso County and the rest of this region reverted to unorganized territory.

On February 28, 1861, the Colorado Territory was organized to govern this unorganized territory and adjacent areas of the New Mexico Territory, the Utah Territory, and the Nebraska Territory. [2] The new Colorado General Assembly organized 17 counties on November 1, 1861, including a new El Paso County for the Colorado Territory.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory</span> County of Kansas Territory

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broderick County, Kansas Territory</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fremont County, Kansas Territory</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montana County, Kansas Territory</span> American county from 1859 to 1861

Montana County was a county of the United States Territory of Kansas that existed from February 2, 1859 to January 29, 1861, when Kansas joined the Union as a state.

Oro County was a county of the United States Territory of Kansas that existed from February 7, 1859 to January 29, 1861, when Kansas joined the Union as a state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peketon County, Kansas Territory</span>

Peketon County was a county of the United States Territory of Kansas that existed from February 7, 1859 to January 29, 1861, when Kansas joined the Union as a state.

Arapahoe County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861. The county name was also spelled Arapaho County, Arapahoe County, Arrapahoe County, and Arappahoe County. The county seat was Denver City.

Cheyenne County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

El Paso County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861. The county seat was Colorado City.

Fountain County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

Heele County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861. It may also have been known as Steele County.

Jackson County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

Mountain County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

North County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

Park County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

Saratoga County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

St. Vrain's County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861.

References

  1. "An Act for the Admission of Kansas into the Union" (cgi-bin). Thirty-sixth United States Congress. January 29, 1861. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  2. "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). Thirty-sixth United States Congress. February 28, 1861. Retrieved November 26, 2007.