History

Mesa County first inhabitants where the Fremont Indians. The Fremont Indians where hunters, farmers, and artists and inhabited Mesa County between 250 and 1300 AD. After the inhabitation of the Fremont Indians, the Northern Ute Indians and their revered leader, Chief Ouray occupied the land in the 1800s. Many of the mountains and rivers where named after two traveling Spanish friars named Dominguez and Escalante. Thereafter, prospectors and towns where founded after the discovery of gold and silver to meet the needs of miners.

In 1883, Mesa County was created from neighboring counties and Grand Junction was named the county seat. In the early 1800s, Grand Junction was staked through a land rush settlement. It was first called Ute, then West Denver, and finally, Grand Junction, because of its location at the confluence of the Gunnison River and Grand Rivers.

Although Colorado became the 38th state in the Union in 1876, it was not until 1883 that Mesa County was created from neighboring counties and Grand Junction was named the county seat. Grand Junction was staked in the early 1800s through a land rush settlement. It was first called Ute, then West Denver, and finally, Grand Junction, because of its location at the confluence of the Gunnison and Grand (now the Colorado) Rivers. In 1887 the county seat began to thrive as the main line of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad came into the area. Soon after, major irrigation projects transformed the Grand Valley into a fertile agricultural area.

Today, Mesa County is home to more than 115,000 people in 15 communities, the largest of which is Grand Junction. The mild climate and low humidity create perfect growing conditions for grapes, supporting many vineyards and wineries around the valley. Mesa County is also home to a number of light manufacturing and service industries, hospitals, a regional airport, ski resort, and numerous outstanding recreational opportunities and cultural activities