Post (C) Doris McCraw
aka Angela Raines
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| Image (C) Doris McCraw |
This is a repost from earlier.
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.
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| Mancos and surrounding area from Wikipedia |
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.
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 two to three miles wide. It is the county's oldest farming section, 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.
During the recent devastating flooding in Southwestern Colorado, Mancos was less impacted than some other areas.
As I research my next book, I will continue my search in 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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