Histories

This county Las Wyoming Territory on the north, Weld county on the east, Weld and Boulder counties on the south, and Summit county on the west. The western portion of Larimer is extremely mountainous, and embraces the eastern declivities and numerous spurs of the main range, from Long's peak north to the northern boundary of the Territory, and also the foot-hills. These latter are broken through at many points by mountain torrents, where deep canyons are formed, which add much to the ruggedness and inaccessibility of this portion of Colorado. In this mountainous portion excellent pine timber is abundant, and available streams for water-powers are plentiful. Among these is the Cache-a-la-Poudre, a considerable and remarkably beautiful branch of the south Platte river.

The eastern part of the county presents the undulating surface peculiar to that portion of the plains which lies along the foot-hills, and is exceedingly well adapted to agricultural pursuits.

As yet mineral deposits of no great value have been discovered in Larimer, although the mountains in this region may be traversed with fissure veins and mineral belts that may enrich future prospectors and miners.

Laporte, a beautiful village on the Cache-a-la-Poudre, in the eastern central portion of the county, is the principal town. The unusual beauty of the scenery surrounding this town, and the healthfulness of the location, make it a very pleasant place of summer resort for tourists. The manufacture of lumber from the pine forests, and farming, are the principal industries of Larimer county.

Contributed 17 Sep 2026 by Norma Hass, extracted from 1870 The Rocky Mountain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer by Samuel S. Wallihan, page 63.

Photos

1922 Group from Highlandlake, Weld County, on the road to Estes Park.

Beaver Park 1922, group photo taken on top of a mountain. Rex the dog, Keith, Mr. Cowle, Mr. Baker, Margaret Crowle, Mrs. Florence Mead, Mrs. Coates, Mrs. Cowle, Wayne

1922 in Beaver Park
Mary Mead of Highlandlake, Weld County, as a young girl with her dog, Rex.

J. Sid. Williams Livery ca1910, as we think he arrived there about 1908, and his stables & ranch were drowned under the reservoir.

Village of Estes Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
One of the most interesting resort towns in the world

Steamboat Rock on highway between Lyons & Estes Park

Long's Peak from Bear Lake
Estes Park

Long's Peak from Big Rock Point, Trail Ridge Road, Grand Lake Hwy

Chasm Lake and Long's Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. From this rock-bound lake the east face of Long's Peak towers nearly 3,000 feet in an almost vertical rise to an altitude of 14,255 ft.

Horseshoe Falls, Fall River Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

1870 Larimer County

Photos