 MILLIKEN TOWN HALL 1101 Broad Street Milliken, Colorado 80543 Phone: (970) 587-4331 Fax: (970) 587-2678 Lois Ann Onorato, Milliken Historical Society 1101 Broad Street Milliken, Colorado 80543 Phone: (970) 587-4251 Fax: (970) 587-2678 LAOnorato1@hotmail.com |
History of MillikenFounding of a Trading Post
Many people came from the east to settle in western
Several Towns and stations from
Milliken: An Early Foundation
By 1908,
Milliken’s Rough Beginning
The Town struggled to get started. There was a high expectation with population and industrious growth, which immediately concerned citizens. 1911 brought local residents to voice their opinion on the matter after visiting
Fires erupted that decade, which impacted and destroyed homes, manufacturing, and commercial buildings, which were viable to the young Town’s birth and growth in decades to come. In 1917, the
Railroads and agriculture continued to be the primary foundations of the Town in the 1920s. Milliken was known for growing sugar beets, potatoes, corn, and wheat and exporting goods with the railroad. Cattle feeding too was popular, and therefore, both cattle and sugar beets were among the largest exported items during the late 1920s and 1930s.
The Great Depression
During the Great Depression, Milliken was still heavily dependent on the railroad for all commodities. At this time it was largely remembered for bringing in coal and the mail. Mail would be delivered to the Town’s depot twice-a-day for citizens to get the most efficient communication possible. The face of Milliken described that of the entire country and world, it was miserable. In fact, the only thing that was progressively working for the Town were Sugar Factories that were shared with the neighboring
Citizens were attempting to sell and trade everything they had in order to survive. Some recall Jewish men in the streets of Milliken trading blankets, food, and other goods with others in order to survive. In essence it was the homeless trading with the homeless in order for people and their families to live the most efficient lives possible. Books, gasoline, and food were all commonly rationed among many hands for survival.
During the Second World War, Milliken, like other communities was trying to recover from the miserable times the prior decade had to offer. Men were at war, and women were pressured into fulfilling jobs and maintaining a sustainable economy, while their husbands and sons were away fighting for the country. Women of this time can recollect handling rural mail, running grocery stores, and doing door-by-door sales to their neighbors.
Milliken’s Pull Forward
Milliken was home to two large potato decks in the 1950s. Trucks would collect the largely grown crop, bring it to the potato decks and export it on train. Milliken also had
As prior decades had, Milliken was similar to the nation in the 1960s. Many hippies and yuppies roamed the streets and the economy was starting to positively shift. Schools began to consolidate, the Town organized its first Fire District, and new water was distributed to residents from the Little Thompson River.
The late 1960s and early 1970s brought about a large building boom within Town limits. Suddenly the Town had a considerable amount of affordable housing units. The Town missed the disco era, but was still heavily pursuant on cattle feeding, having a tremendous amount of cattle on the Erlich lot.
Transformation to a Competitive Community
Milliken was still a community that was trying to keep up with its counterparts in the 1980s. The Town took a large progressive step in 1985 and 1986 by turning its dirt roads into paved streets. Generally the Town was in favor of the progressive move but there were those who opposed it as well. The animosity shared allowed others to exchange unbelievable opposition stories, which are being collected for Milliken’s story, the Official History Book of Milliken.
During the 1990s, Milliken grew and so too did its government. The Milliken Community Complex was constructed and in 1996, the Town government moved in to further benefit their citizens. The government grew in 2004 with the opening of the Milliken Public Works Facility. In 2009, the government will extend its quarters once more when the Police move from their historic building to a new facility directly across the street from their current one.
Milliken Today
2010 HISTORY BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE PURCHASE THE 2010 HISTORY BOOKS NOW $25.00 AVAILABLE AT MILLIKEN TOWN HALL 1101 BROAD STREET OR A COPY CAN BE MAILED TO YOU FOR AN ADDITIONAL $ 5.00 |
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