214 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 
NUMBER OF FARMS IN COLORADO* 
1870 1880 1890 1900 
1,738 4,506 16,389 24,700 
Percentage of Increase .. 159-3 263.7 50.7 
* Ibid. 
Agriculture is the most important industry in Colorado, the value 
of its products being slightly in excess of those of the mines. The 
progress of this industry is shown by the tables illustrating the number 
engaged in it and also the number of farms worked with the percentages 
of increase from decade to decade. 
It appears that in 1860 the number of persons engaged in agriculture 
was negligibly small, but by 1870, 6,462 individuals had found their way 
to this fundamental pursuit. This increase of agriculturists was to 
some extent hastened by the disappointment of those who failed to find 
fortunes in the gold rush of 1859. A number undoubtedly were driven 
into farming on account of shortage of means with which to again reach 
the states. Then also, it became known during this decade that irri- 
gation could be used with success, and that there was also a local market 
for farm produce. 
The increase in the number of males engaged in agriculture from 
6,462 in 1870 to 13,462 in 1880 is to be accounted for by the opening of 
the railroads in June and September of 1870, by the demand for supplies 
at the mines and to support the increase of population which followed the 
Leadville strikes of 1877, and also by the development of irrigation on a 
somewhat extensive scale. It was during this period that a number of 
the Colony Settlements were made. In the period from 1870 to 1873 the 
colonies of Greeley, Longmont, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and 
Evans were established and by 1880 had received large additions. These 
were made up of efficient farmers selected with considerable care, in the 
East, and were established at once as agricultural communities and, 
excepting Colorado Springs, have remained such. ‘The figures for 
1890 show an increase of agriculturists from 13,462 in 1880 to 36,134, a 
gain of 168.4 per cent. while the increase in population of the state was 
112.1 per cent. 
