The Torrid History of Breckenridge

Do you feel sometimes like you would rather secede from the daily urban struggle and declare yourself independent? You can in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Founded in the mid 1800's, this small burg made a name for itself during the gold rush. On the west side of the Blue River, a happy-go-lucky red light district sprang into being to comfort all of those digging in the hard soil for yellow nuggets of the precious metal. When the mines began to play out, the workers left, but the town did not. It was just too beautiful to leave for many of the settlers, and they set up their Victorian style homes and shops on either side of the water.

The town had dwindled down in size, of course, and in 1936, the citizens were surprised to find out they were no longer on the map of the United States! To this day, the Heritage Festival celebrates the ability of this little strip of land to declare it's own sovereignty for a weekend or so in August.

Of course, the red light district is no longer there and the shanties are long gone. In fact, just after World War Two, fewer than three hundred people were living in Breckenridge, but with the advent of recreational skiing, the town population has increased more than tenfold.

Breckenridge still maintains it's old-world charm, but mixes it with the best of the modern world. A Victorian bed-and-breakfast may very well have satellite television and a hookup for high speed internet access.

This is truly a town that spans the ages, from a hard-living rough and tumble lifestyle that began here, to the relaxed and upscale version we can experience today.