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<br />BACKGROUND INFORMATION <br /> <br />SETTLEMENT <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Immigrants were first attracted to this portion of western <br />Colorado In 1881. The first settlement in the Rifle area can be <br />attributed to Abraham Maxfield, who with several others, established <br />a ranch on Rifle Creek at the present townsite In 1882. By the mld- <br />1880's most of the desirable agricultural lands in the ~Iclnlty had <br />been filed upon. <br /> <br />In 1889, Maxfield laid out the town of Rifle on his ranch and <br />later that year the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad was <br />extended to the town from Glenwood Springs. Rifle soon became the <br />most Important stock loading point In Colorado with thousands of <br />head of cattle being driven down from the White River country. <br /> <br /> <br />Shipping requirements for a~rlcultural products spurred growth In <br />the community and In 1905 Rifle was Incorporated. The city continues <br />to serve as a retal I trade and transportation center for central <br />Garfield County and southern Rio Blanco County. <br /> <br />Since the 1920's the vast mineral wealth of the area bas been an <br />important factor in the growth of the community. 011 shale retorts were <br />constructed during the 1920's and, in 1929, a vanadium mil I was built <br />to process ore mined to the north of the city. Although mineral recov- <br />ery activities are presently at a reduced level, a major growth stimulus <br />can be expected when economically feasible means to extract 011 from <br />011 shale are developed. <br /> <br />~~. <br />~ <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br />