Larimer County Colorado ~  1870

This county has Wyoming Territory on the north, Weld County on the east, Weld and Boulder counties on the south, and Summit County on the west. The western portion of Larimer is extremely mountainous, and embraces the eastern declivities and numerous spurs of the main range, from Long's peak north to the northern boundary of the Territory, and also the foot-hills. These latter are broken through at many points by mountain torrents, where deep cartons are formed, which add much to the ruggedness and inaccessibility of this portion of Colorado. In this mountainous portion excellent pine timber is abundant, and available streams for water-powers are plentiful. Among these is the Cache-a-la-Poudre, a considerable and remarkably beautiful branch of the South Platte River.

The eastern part of the county presents the undulating surface peculiar to that portion of the plains which lies along the foot-hills, and is exceedingly well adapted to agricultural pursuits.

As yet mineral deposits of no great value have been discovered in Larimer, although the mountains in this region may be traversed with fissure veins and mineral belts that may enrich future prospectors and miners. Laporte, a beautiful village on the Cache-a-la-Poudre, in the eastern central portion of the county, is the principal town. The unusual beauty of the scenery surrounding this town, and the healthfulness of the location, make it a very pleasant place of summer resort for tourists. The manufacture of lumber from the pine forests, and farming, are the principal industries of Larimer County.

Rocky Mountain Directory & Colorado Gazetteer

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