Dakan, Colorado Explained

Dakan was a short-lived mining town, now a ghost town, in western Douglas County, Colorado, United States, in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Dakan post office operated from December 30, 1896, until August 2, 1898.[1]

History

The town was founded in 1896 by prospector William Wanner, who announced that he had made a shipment of ore worth $35 per ton in silver and gold from his claim, and the Castle Rock Journal declared "The future of Dakan is assured".[2] By Christmas 1896, there were about 300 people in Dakan.[3]

In January 1897, Dakan was described as having eight buildings, including hotel, restaurant, saloon and grocery store, and contracts for five additional buildings as soon as lumber could be delivered.[4] But, the ore did not live up to the hopes of the prospectors and promoters. By August 1898, the post office was closed and the town disappeared.[5]

Geography

The town was said to be "in the shadow of" Dakan Mountain, which is located at 39.2375°N -105.0664°W.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989. William H.. Bauer. James L.. Ozment. John H.. Willard. 1990. Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation. Golden, Colorado. 0-918654-42-4.
  2. Castle Rock Journal, 18 December 1896, p.2 c.2.
  3. [Denver Post]
  4. Denver Republican, 12 January 1897, p.7 c.3.
  5. Josephine Lowell Marr, Douglas County, A Historical Journey, (Gunnison, Colorado: B&B Printers, 1983) 213.