Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory
The Saratoga County was a county of lying outside of U.S. law Jefferson Territory, which consisted of 28 November 1859 to 28 February 1861.
History
In July 1858, gold along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory discovered. This discovery triggered the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Many residents in the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so that on October 24, 1859 it voted to form their own Jefferson Territory. In the following months, the General Assembly of Jefferson Territory agreed to organize 12 counties: Arapahoe County, Cheyenne County, El Paso County, Fountain County, Heele County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Mountain County, North County, Park County, Saratoga County and St. Vrain County. The Saratoga County was named after Saratoga Springs, New York, due to the hot mineral springs, which had been found in the county. The County includes large parts of the area, which is now one of Grand County, Colorado.
The Jefferson Territory never received federal support. On February 28, 1861, U.S. President James Buchanan signed a law with which the Colorado Territory was organized. On November 1, 1861, the Colorado General Assembly organized 17 counties, including the Grand County, Colorado for the new territory.
Circle city
The county town of Saratoga County was the mining town of Breckinridge. Today, Breckenridge is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado.
Elections and elected officials
The first officer, who held an office in Saratoga County, John W. McIntyre was, who was appointed by Governor Robert W. Steele to the presiding judge of Saratoga County in December 1859. He held the position until the first election on January 2, 1860.