History of Downtown - Copied from: http://www.yampavalley.info/history0095.asp#INLINK009

For hundreds of years, the Steamboat Springs area was the summer hunting grounds for the Ute Indians. In the early 1800's, white trappers passed through the area spreading word of the lush grass and mineral springs. In 1875, James Harvey Crawford, a Civil War veteran from Sedalia, Missouri, brought his young family to be the first permanent settlers in Steamboat Springs.

The Crawfords and the Utes lived peacefully in the area, until the Meeker Massacre motivated the government to relocate the Indians to a reservation in eastern Utah. Other pioneer families settled in the area, and in 1884,Crawford convinced some Boulder, Colorado, investors to assist in the organization of the Steamboat Springs Town site. By the time the town was incorporated in 1900, there were about 1000 residents.

The natural hot springs attracted tourists after the railroad was completed in 1908. Ranches near the town shipped thousands of head of cattle on the new transportation system. Short lived mining operations in gold, silver, and onyx gave away to the much more lucrative coal extractions. Routt County continues today as Colorado's leading coal producer.

Norwegian stonemason, Carl Howelsen, arrived in 1912 and introduced "skiing for fun" starting the Winter Carnival and Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Historic Howelsen Hill still remains today as the premier producer of Winter Olympians. The large ski area on Mt. Werner opened in the 1960's.

Steamboat Springs is now a world-class ski resort, a high producing coal-mining area, hunting and fishing mecca, and an active Western ranching community. In the last century, the population of the town has increased ten fold.

TIMELINE OF STEAMBOT SPRINGS HISTORY

Over 10,000 years ago, primitive hunters sought big game in the area. Later the Northern Utes were the primary summer residents hunting wild game and bathing in the therapeutic hot springs.

Middle 1800's - Trappers, mountain men, and pathfinders crossed the area. French trappers named the area "Steamboat Springs" for the distinctive chugging sound of one of the springs.

Mid to late 1800's - Gold and silver miners were active in the area, but coal proved to be more lucrative, and remains so today. Ranching was developing as a prime industry and remains important still.

1865-Hahns Peak was established and served as the county seat from 1879 until 1912.

1875-Colonel James Crawford, a retired military man from Missouri, built the first white settler's cabin in Steamboat Springs on a piece of land that he had staked the previous summer. Late in the summer of 1875, he brought his family to live on the banks of the Yampa River.

1876- Colorado became a state.

1877-Routt County was officially created.

1881 - Following the Meeker Massacre, the Utes were permanently removed to a Utah reservation.

1888 - Major stage routes extended into the Steamboat Springs area.

1900 - The town of Steamboat Springs was incorporated.

1900 - Electricity and the telephone were available.

1908 The railroad reached Steamboat Springs.

1909 - The large Cabin Hotel was built in Steamboat Springs to accommodate train passengers who came to visit the town's warm springs.

1912 - The county seat was moved to Steamboat Springs.

1912 - Carl Howelsen, "the father of recreational skiing in Colorado", arrived in Steamboat Springs.

1913- The first Winter Carnival was held for locals on Woodchuck Hill.

1913 - The first session was held at the Perry-Mansfield Camp

1914 - The Steamboat Springs Ski Club established. It was later called the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and remains the oldest ski club west of the Mississippi.

1914 - A summer road was opened over Rabbit Ears Pass.

1914 - Carl Howelsen organized a larger Winter Carnival to attract tourists and held it at a new location now known as Howelsen Hill.

1932 - John Steele was Steamboat Springs first Olympian competed in the jumping event in Lake Placid. Since then Steamboat Springs has sent 53 more athletes to the Olympics: more than any other community in the country.

1947 - Steamboat Springs was dubbed "Ski Town, USA" declaring that of the 1700 residents, 1685 were skiers.

1956 - Exploration and study was begun to establish a major ski area east of the town of Steamboat Springs.

1959 - The Tread of Pioneers Museum was founded.

1960's - Routt County became the leading producer of coal in Colorado.

1961 - The large ski area opened its first lift, Cub Claw, on Storm Mountain.

1964 - Buddy Werner, an Olympic skier and Steamboat's favorite son, was killed in an Austrian avalanche. Storm Mountain was renamed Mt. Werner in his honor.

1969 - The Mt. Werner Ski area was sold by local owners to a large corporation, and a $10,000,000 upgrade and expansion was started. It has been sold four times since then.

1972 - Steamboat Springs was being considered as the Nordic site for the 1976 Olympics. Mysteriously the 90-meter jump burned: Colorado voters later denied hosting the 1976 Winter Games in the state.

1973 - "The mountain village" was annexed to the town, doubling the geographic size. Later that year a home rule charter was accepted.

In the two decades since the 1970's, Steamboat Springs has experienced growth in population and valuation. The area continues to be a leading coal producer, an active ranching community, and a year around recreation resort.