Costilla County Colorado ~  1870

This county is located chiefly in the beautiful San Luis Park, and on the east side of the Rio Grande del Norte River. The population consists chiefly of Mexicans, or Spanish-Mexicans, who do not speak English. The settlements are scattered along the Costilla, Culebra, Ute, Trinchera, and Sangre de Cristo creeks, and the principal industry is stock raising. Sheep, horses, Croats cattle and asses are reared extensively. The people are, for the most part Catholics, and every little town has its church, located on the principal plaza. The houses are usually built of adobe, or sun-dried brick, and not more than one story high.

The population is variously estimated at from 2,000 to 3,000, although the recent census returns less than 2,000. Fort Garland is in this county, and is a prominent frontier post of the government. The principal town and county seat is Costilla, situated on the Rio Costilla, a tributary of the Rio Grande. It claims a population of 1,000. San Luis is a thriving town of 700 inhabitants, and was formerly the county seat. It is on the Culebra River.

Rocky Mountain Directory & Colorado Gazetteer

Source: Rocky Mountain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer, 1871, S. S. Wallihan & Company, Compilers and Publishers, Denver, 1870.