Fort Morgan Cut-Off
Encyclopedia
The Fort Morgan Cut-Off of the Overland Stage Company (formerly the Central Overland, California, and Pike's Peak Express Company
) passed through Adams County, Colorado
. It was established in September 1862 as an offshoot of the Overland Trail
. The established stage route traveled through the present day towns of Greeley
and Laporte
in northern Colorado. A connecting trail known as the Denver Road followed the South Platte River
to Denver and the surrounding mining towns. The Fort Morgan Cut-off bypassed the stations between Fort Morgan, Colorado
and Laporte and went directly to Denver.
Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company
The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company was the parent company of the Pony Express.It was formed by William Russell, Alexander Majors and William Waddell, as a freighting company supplying goods to the western United States...
) passed through Adams County, Colorado
Adams County, Colorado
Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...
. It was established in September 1862 as an offshoot of the Overland Trail
Overland Trail
The Overland Trail was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the American West during the 19th century. While portions of the route had been used by explorers and trappers since the 1820s, the Overland Trail was most heavily used in the 1860s as an alternative route to the Oregon, California and Mormon...
. The established stage route traveled through the present day towns of Greeley
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
and Laporte
Laporte, Colorado
Laporte is a census-designated place in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,691 at the 2000 census...
in northern Colorado. A connecting trail known as the Denver Road followed the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
to Denver and the surrounding mining towns. The Fort Morgan Cut-off bypassed the stations between Fort Morgan, Colorado
Fort Morgan, Colorado
The City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...
and Laporte and went directly to Denver.
Stations
- Bijou Stage Station
- Living Springs Stage Station
- Kiowa Stage Station (now Bennett, ColoradoBennett, ColoradoThe town of Bennett is a Statutory Town in Adams and Arapahoe counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the town had a population of 2,536 in 2005...
) - Box Elder Stage Station (now Watkins, ColoradoWatkins, ColoradoWatkins is a census-designated place in Arapahoe and Adams County, Colorado, United States. It was formerly an incorporated town. The Watkins Post Office has the ZIP Code 80137...
) - Coal Creek Stage Station (located in present-day Aurora, ColoradoAurora, ColoradoCity of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
) - Toll Gate Stage Station (located in present-day Aurora, ColoradoAurora, ColoradoCity of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
)
Sources
- Wagner, Albin. "Overland Stage First Mass Transit System". Adams County Crossroads of the West 2:18-19 Denver Colorado: Century Graphics (1977). ISBN 0-930952-01-4 (accessed September 4, 2006)