Black Hawk
By most accounts, Black Hawk took its name from an early stamp mill (a type of mill used to break ore) brought in from Rock Island, IL and named for the famous Indian Chief. But in 1868 this little town by the Clear Creek river was called the ‘City of Mills’, as tons of ore poured in for processing by the water-powered stamp mills. In 1872, the Colorado Central Railway extended its line to Black Hawk creating a vital link to the nation’s network of railroads.
Central City
Also known as the ‘Richest Square Mile on Earth’, the story behind the naming of Central City has two different versions. In June of 1859, William N. Byers, founder of the Rocky Mountain News, decided to set up camp halfway between Nevada City (then called Nevadaville) and Black Hawk. He decided a town should be built and aptly named Central City. A different version of the story involves a miners’ supply store, named the "Central City Store." No matter which story is accurate, Central City became the most important town in Colorado from 1859 through 1866.
Information provided courtesy of: Linda Jones, President, Gilpin Historical Society. For more on Black Hawk/Central City history, please visit the Gilpin Historical Society website.
Education Programs
Interested in learning more about Black Hawk/Central City’s heritage, culture and history? Please contact Joanne Lah at 303-282-8800 for information regarding field trips, museum visits, historical tours and more.
