Uncompaghre County, Former administrative county in Colorado, United States.
Uncompahgre County was a former administrative territory in southwestern Colorado that occupied mountainous terrain within the San Juan Mountains. The region was later absorbed into Ouray County while retaining its original geographical boundaries.
The Colorado General Assembly created Uncompahgre County on February 27, 1883 as a replacement for Ouray County. The decision was reversed within days, returning the territory to its previous administrative jurisdiction.
The name comes from the Uncompahgre Ute people, a Native American band whose presence shaped the regional identity long before European contact. This heritage remains evident in place names and geographical references throughout the area.
The former territory of Uncompahgre County now lies entirely within Ouray County and cannot be visited as a separate jurisdiction. Visitors interested in this area should explore it as part of the broader Ouray County region.
This administrative territory lasted only three days before the Colorado General Assembly reversed its 1883 decision. This makes it one of the shortest-lived counties in American history.
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