The Beginnings:
The story of Walsenburg can be traced back 150 years. Waves of settlers from New Mexico started moving into an area know by the native Tribes as Huajatolla -Breasts of the Earth.

The current name of Walsenburg comes from Fred Walsen, a local merchant who had opened a trading post here.

Mostly because of Fred Walsen, by the early 1870's a large number of Germans had settled in and around the plaza.

When Coal was King:
It was Fred who opened the first coal mine in the county just west of town in 1876.

Walsen Mine was the largest and most productive coal mine in Huerfano County. During the latter half of the 1800's and early 1900's, this area produced over 500 million tons of Black Diamonds from various mines in the county.

According to some historic references, the population of the county reached as high as 20,000.

The mines became "nonproductive" when Colorado began to enforce the state's mining safety regulations and with the development of oil and natural gas as the fuels of choice.
-source -Sangres.com

Today:
Like many towns in southern Colorado, Walsenburg struggled after the coal industry left. By today, Walsenburg is a exciting place full of renewed energy.

With a downtown on the upswing, new businesses and a growing tourism industry, Walsenburg is experiencing a new golden era.