Originally established by miners chasing
silver and gold in the surrounding mountains, the town at one time boasted more
horses and mules than people. Prospectors arrived in the area in 1875. At the
height of the mining, Ouray had more than 30 active mines. The town—after
changing its name and that of the county it was in several times—was
incorporated on October 2, 1876, named after Chief Ouray of the Utes, a Native
American tribe. By 1877 Ouray had grown to over 1,000 in population and was
named county seat of the newly formed Ouray County on March 8, 1877.
