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• Li[tle European presence was felt until after 1780, with the advent of fur trapping <br />in northwestern Colorado. 'William Ashley organized a major expedition in 13°2, and the <br />fur trade boomed fcr 30 years. ~ <br />Several exolorers, including John Fremont and John LVesley Po~.vell, passed through <br />the area just before and after the collapse of the fur trade in 1843. Tliey had little good <br />to say about the v:orth of the area (Athearn 1977). <br />Gold was discovered at Hans Peal; by 1361, and by 1870 this was a booming to+vn, <br />though most other areas were not settled until after 1881, when the Utes v: ere moved to <br />Utah. Then cattle ranching expanded and towns sprang uo. By 1900 most towns in <br />north+vestern Colorado, such as Steamboat Sprints, Craig, and i.7eeker were settled. <br />Since 1900 cattle, sheep, oil, and tourism have been the economic basis of <br />exploitation of Northc:estern Colorado (Athearn 1977). F?istoric sites in the Yampa Basin <br />are generally architectural (17cNamara 1978). <br />_• <br />U <br />7 <br />