Cotopaxi, Colorado: Russian Jewish Colony

Did you know?

In the early 1880's Cotopaxi had a Russian Jewish agricultural colony. Over twenty Jewish families, most of whom were fleeing persecution in Russia, immigrated to Cotopaxi in 1882.

Following promises of ownership of rich farm land, they found dry, rocky, mountain ground wherein they had no legal title. Their sponsor, Emanuel Saltiel, was apparently leading them to Cotopaxi to provide a cheap labor source for his mine!

Early frosts, late frosts, Indians, bears, floods, and lack of promised housing and supplies led to the colony's early demise.

However, as history has witnessed, the industrious and hard working Jews of Cotopaxi went on to become very successful in community and business. Several colonists, after obtaining cultivatable land, were very successful at farming and ranching in Colorado.

With the gracious permission of Flora Jane Satt, her thesis titled "The Cotopaxi Colony" is here!!

Well, at least parts of it!
Part I, The Place, Part II - The People, Part III - The Events, and Part IV - Conclusions, from Flora Jane Satt's thesis on the Cotopaxi Colony are now posted.

Click here to view The Cotopaxi Colony, by Flora Jane Satt.

As time permits, more will be added.

UPDATE! links repaired!