Snippet: The town of Westcliffe, Colorado began in 1881 as a railroad terminus and grew from mining and ranching — understanding that roots helps you value land and homes with deep context.
Westcliffe didn’t spring up randomly—it emerged in the 1880s when the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad extended its line into the valley in 1881. Before that, the surrounding area of Custer County, Colorado was home to the Ute people, homesteaders, and then mining booms that came and faded.
The valley’s first major shift: a German colony arrived in 1870, settled near what is now west of town, attempted farming the area but struggled, and then many turned to ranching. Mining was big briefly—silver discovered, towns sprang up—but when the boom popped, ranching and agriculture became the steady heart.
What this history means for you as a buyer or seller today:
- Many parcels still carry ranching or agricultural legacy uses—when one of these properties comes to market, the land-use history matters for zoning, wells, water rights, and perimeter access.
- The valuation of older cabins, ranches or parcels with irrigation ditches often benefits from their heritage—buying a property that was part of the valley’s original ranching phase may mean fewer surprises.
- As a seller, highlighting the deep heritage of your property can set it apart (“original hay-fields, historic irrigation ditch still uses hay runoff,” etc.).
- As a buyer, you want an agent who knows how this legacy affects value: wells, easements, access roads, historical designations.
As Westcliffe’s leading Realtor—54 properties sold and over $21 million in volume in 2024, recognized among the top 250 agents at HomeSmart nationwide—I bring both the high-level transaction skill and the ground-level local history context you need.
If you’re considering a purchase or sale in Westcliffe or Custer County, understanding the history isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Visit kaylarbrady.com and let’s explore your property with heritage in mind.