Animas City (Colo.): inventory of records at SW Studies Center

Overview: minutes, ledger account books, abstracts of title and other records regarding the former Animas City until its annexation to the City of Durango (Colo.) in 1947, effective 1948.
Years this material was created: 1878-1947
Quantity: ca. 4 linear shelf feet (in 1.5 document cases and 2 flat boxes)

Animas City is now part of the City of Durango. Until 1948 it was a separate city. Its southern boundary was north of Junction Street, and it extended northward to 37th Street.

The original Animas City was a log-cabin, gold mining settlement founded by the Baker Party around 1860 and located on the west bank of the Animas River. In 1874-5, Animas City was re-established, 12-14 miles south of its original placement, and populated by homesteading tracts. A governing body was established in 1876 for a population of approximately 3,000 and on October 5, 1878 the town voted for incorporation. Animas City anticipated a further boom from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad’s San Juan extension, but the city raised the asking price for their land. Instead, the railroad built its own city, Durango (established on September 13, 1880), as a mainline depot stop, a few miles south of Animas City – and didn’t build a station where the train passed Animas City on its way to Silverton. Durango soon became the major shipping point and commercial center in the San Juan Basin, and Animas City began to face obscurity.

For many decades Durango and Animas City faced legal issues surrounding both the railroad and water rights. On October 12, 1886, Animas City’s town board attempted to press charges against the D&RG Railroad for failing to procure a right of way. Despite several land deeds and attempts to enforce the ordinances, Animas City declared Durango’s land lease for the railroad null and void in 1896. The water rights posed another threat. In 1887, Animas City owned the water rights to Junction Creek and agreed to supply Durango’s water for an annual fee of $3,000, with pre-set limits on water usage and a statute of limitations of twenty years. The cost of laying pipe and maintenance were to be split between the two towns. However, by 1889, Durango was threatening to use the water from Junction Creek regardless of priority rights. Within a few years Junction Creek was no longer a sufficient water source and Animas City wanted to negotiate for a water supply from Durango’s established reservoir on the Florida River. As water costs began to rise in 1926 with the installment of a water meter, Animas City struggled to meet the growing demands on their economy.

Future negotiations were refused on the part of both Animas City and Durango, and finally, the decision for annexation to Durango entered the Animas City ballot on October 28, 1947. Animas City needed funding for the infrastructure of its city utilities services, and Durango needed access to Animas City's sewage treatment plant (which is no longer in existence). With a population of approximately five hundred, 294 citizens voted for the annexation, with 114 against. Animas City was officially absorbed into Durango by January 1, 1948.

Today there are two historical points of interest for this city that is in some respects considered something of a ghost town. The Animas City Cemetery (renamed the Old Durango Cemetery) is located on Florida Road just west of North College Drive and cannot be seen from the road. The Animas Museum (La Plata County Historical Society), located at 31^st St. and West Second Ave., occupies a former schoolhouse.

· Luzar, Retha Beebe. The Animas City Story: A forerunner of Durango, Colorado (published in 1978) (call number: F784.A52 L8 at the Delaney Library at the Center of Southwest Studies)

Board of Trustees minutes, 1884 March 11 - 1899 March 21 (click here for a table of data from pages 200-209, listing business licenses issued 1879-1896, located by address)
Board of Trustees minutes, 1932 May 10 - 1947 Dec. 30
Board of Trustees ordinance book, 1878 Dec. 24 - 1888 March 13, Nos. 1-60
Board of Trustees ordinance book, 1911 Aug. 8 - 1947 Nov. 18, Nos. 139-227
Cash payments, 1940 September - 1947 May
Cash receipts, 1942 March 3 - 1947 Dec. 27
Dates of deposit with First National Bank of Durango, 1940 May 10 - 1948 Jan. 1
Police Magistrate court records, 1879 Jan. - 1883 Dec.
Property descriptions ledger, [undated]
La Plata County Abstract Company deeds list (abstracts of title), 1876-1900
Various accounts,1935 May - 1947 Dec.
Water record, 1939 Jan. - 1947 Oct.

Animas City (Colo.) business licenses issued 1879-1896 (approximately 216 licenses; listed in their order of entry in pages 200-209 in the bound volume of Board of Trustees minutes, 1884 March 11 - 1899 March 21):

*Issued*	*License number*	*First name*	Surname or business name	*Lot number*	*Street*	*City*	*No. of months*	*Fee*	*Business type*		*Page # in ledger*
1/1/1879	1	F. A.	Foin		2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	2	John	Schussler	52, 54	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store		200
1/1/1879	3	Proshier	Basbier	47	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	eating house		200
1/1/1879	4	William	Wickline	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	billiard table		200
1/1/1879	5	John M.	Trew	34	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	commission merchant		200
1/1/1879	6		Byers			Animas City	12	$0.50		dog owner	200
1/1/1879	7	G. M.	Refhart	30	2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	8	G. M.	Refhart	36, 40	Main	Animas City	12	$1.00	grocery store		200
1/1/1879	9	Charles	Faigle	50	Main	Animas City	12	$1.00	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	10	J. L.	Russell	76, 78, 80	West River	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	11	John F.	Guilfoyle	35	2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	12	A. D.	Demasters	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	13	J.	Townsley	74	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	14	A. D.	Demasters	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	billiard table		200
1/1/1879	15	Walter	Wiggins	36	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	16	Fred	McKee	75	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store		200
1/1/1879	17	J. E.	Seacome	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store		200
1/1/1879	18	Emma	Shaw			Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner		200
1/1/1879	19	A. L.	Bahoendty		Main	Animas City	6	$1.00	eating house		200
1/1/1879

Preface	Introduction/ Scope and contents	Historical note	Animas City (Colo.) business licenses issued 1879-1896
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	Collection M 120: Animas City (Colo.) government records DRAFT inventory

Collection M 120: Animas City (Colo.) government records DRAFT inventory

Collection M 120:
Animas City (Colo.) government records
DRAFT inventory