San Luis founded by settlers from Taos

Background. The San Luis Valley, a large alpine valley in south-central Colorado, was ceded to the United States by Mexico following the Mexican–American War. Hispanic settlers began moving north into the valley after the United States made a treaty with the Utes in 1849. Settlers from New Mexico established several small settlements in what is now Colorado, primarily as farmers and ranchers.

Settlement. Hispanic settlers from the Taos Valley established villages along the Rio Culebra in the San Luis Valley and reportedly took possession of a portion of the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant on April 9, 1851, as sources state. The village was later renamed San Luis de la Culebra at the June 21, 1851 church dedication, and it is regarded as the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado.

Context. Settlers were wary of venturing north of the 37th parallel due to fear of Ute and Comanche raids. The United States Army established Fort Massachusetts in 1852 and Fort Garland in 1858 to provide protection for the settlers in the valley. The settlement cemented traditions of New Mexican cuisine and music in the Southern Rocky Mountain Front.