Post by Doris McCraw
aka Angela Raines
Aerial View of Mancos and Mancos Valley
from Wikipedia
How many have heard of Mancos? For those of us who live in
Colorado, it is the name of the town and river in southwest Colorado.
The name, Rio de Los Mancos, first appears in the records of
the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition. The story is that one of the writers
fell and hurt his hand; thus the word mancos which means left-handed or one-armed.
The Mancos River, originally called El Rio de San Lazaro, begins Northeast of the town of Mancos. At that point, the West Mancos and East Mancos rivers join and continue South through that part of Colorado into northern New Mexico, near the Four Corners region.
For some of you, this may sound familiar. Why? It is also
one of the entrances to Mesa Verde National Park. Along with the Ute Mountain
Ute Mancos Canyon Historic District, a private park, it makes up one of the
largest archaeological preserves in the United States. This region is important
as a window into the culture of the Anasazi present in the area before the
influx of the Spanish, English, and others.
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| Image Property of the Author |
The Mancos Valley, where the town of Mancos is situated, was described in an 1897 article as “lying along the eastern border of the county of Montezuma. It is about twelve miles long and from two to three miles in width. It is the oldest farming section of the county, having been first settled around 1877. Probably three thousand acres are under cultivation in this valley, which is famous for its immense yields of alfalfa, wheat, and oats.” The article also says the town of Mancos is incorporated and has all the different branches of business and industry that make up a thriving western town. It is a supply point for the La Plata mines in Montezuma County. Ranching also took place in the general area.
As I research for my next National Park Brides Book, titled “Pauline,”
I shall continue the search into Montezuma County, Mancos, Colorado, Mesa Verde
National Park, and the stories this historically rich area has to offer.
Until next time:
Stay safe - Doris
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