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Douglas County (Images of America)

Castle Rock Writers bring readers a collection of vintage images and sketches of Douglas County from approximately 1861 to 1950, covering the settling of towns such as Parker and Sedalia and rural areas like Cherry Valley and Daniel's Park. Early homesteaders, adventurers, and prospectors journeyed west following the 900-plus miles along the Cherokee Trail, seeking the wealth of gold or needing the curative air of Colorado. On the long and arduous trip, travelers stopped at the Twenty Mile House in Parker or the Pretty Woman Ranch on the First Territorial Road. They needed to clean off the dust and dirt and enjoy a nourishing meal before the final push to Denver and beyond. Some simply stayed. They homesteaded ranches, staked out mines, and built small towns in the rolling plains, mesas, forested hills, and mountains that make up the 843 square miles of Douglas County. In the first half of the 20th century, the region grew into cohesive communities, where families thrived through ingenuity and hard work. Neighbors supported neighbors.