num_pages: 128
description: In October 1869 Nathan Meeker the New York Tribune's agricultural editor visited the Colorado Territory. Impressed with the scenery people climate and resources he wrote an article A Western Colony for the Tribune inviting principled people with money to invest in a temperance and agricultural colony. Over 3000 prospective colonists wrote to Meeker. On December 23 Meeker founded the Union Colony a joint-stock colonization company and chose 737 of the best applicants as members. In April 1870 the company established the town of Greeley named for Tribune editor Horace Greeley. Founded on the principles of temperance religion education agriculture irrigation cooperation and family values Greeley became the Weld County seat in 1877. Agriculture and water development ensured Greeley's reputation as the Garden Spot of the State. Potatoes became its first commercially viable crop. From 1900 to 1950 agricultural expansion ushered in a succession of immigrants including Germans from Russia Japanese Hispanics and Mexican nationals looking for work and new opportunities. Greeley's economy growth and diversity remain rooted in the land and its people.
language: English
title: Greeley
publisher: Arcadia Publishing