Leader, Colorado

Leader is located at {{coord|39|53|58|N|104|03|23|W|type:city}} (39.8994277,-104.056341667), 12 miles northeast of Byers.{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Donald R. |date=1999 |title=Place Names of Colorado: A Genealogical & Historical Guide to Colorado Sites |url=https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/Place_Names_of_Colorado.pdf |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Denver Library |archive-date=2017-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027102334/https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/Place_Names_of_Colorado.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Adams County Colorado 1925.png

The Leader post office began operations in 1910 and ceased operating in 1940.{{Cite web |title=Post Offices |url=https://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&searchtext=Leader&state=CO&county=Adams&searchtype=word |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=www.postalhistory.com |archive-date=2022-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020093616/https://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&searchtext=Leader&state=CO&county=Adams&searchtype=word |url-status=live }}

A chapter of the Colorado Grange was organized in Leader in 1916, founded by area resident J. F. Girardot. The grange in Leader was known as United Farmers #288.{{Cite book |last=Grange |first=Colorado State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bxw1AQAAMAAJ&dq=%2522leader,+adams+county%2522&pg=RA5-PA24 |title=Journal of Proceedings of the ... Annual Session of the Colorado State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry |date=1916 |publisher=The Grange |page=24 |language=en |volume=38-43 |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214224207/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bxw1AQAAMAAJ&dq=%2522leader,+adams+county%2522&pg=RA5-PA24#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }} In the early years, Leader was noted for its prairie dogs and ground squirrels; the latter were said to be highly destructive to corn, peanut, and bean crops in Leader.{{Cite book |last=Entomologist |first=Colorado Office of State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqNrNr0RWn4C&q=%2522leader%2522 |title=Circular |date=1910 |pages=5, 17 |language=en |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214224324/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqNrNr0RWn4C&q=%2522leader%2522#v=onepage&q=%2522leader%2522&f=false |url-status=live }}

Leader Community Hall was built in the 1940s, and served as a gathering spot for community events, and as a polling site for that part of Adams County.{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1954 |title=Polling and Registration Places and Registration Committees |page=5 |work=Westminster Journal |publisher=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=WMJ19541001-01.2.25&srpos=1&e=--1859---1963--en-20--1--txt-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------2------ |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021185915/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=WMJ19541001-01.2.25&srpos=1&e=--1859---1963--en-20--1--txt-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------2------ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1961 |title=Legal Notices |page=6 |work=Westminster Journal |publisher=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=WMJ19610921-01.2.48&srpos=6&e=--1859---1963--en-20--1--txt-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------2------ |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021185913/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=WMJ19610921-01.2.48&srpos=6&e=--1859---1963--en-20--1--txt-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------2------ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1966 |title=Arapahoe and Adams Polling places listed |work=The Aurora Advocate |publisher=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUA19661102-01.2.12&srpos=4&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------0------ |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2022-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023021628/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUA19661102-01.2.12&srpos=4&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------0------ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1972 |title=Here's where you vote Tuesday |page=16 |work=Journal-Sentinel |publisher=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=JLS19721102-01.2.59&srpos=18&e=-------en-20--1-byDA-img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------0------ |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2022-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023023704/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=JLS19721102-01.2.59&srpos=18&e=-------en-20--1-byDA-img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader+community+hall%2522-------0------ |url-status=live }} Leader Hall was still being used in the 1970s, with the women forming the Leader Community Hall Ladies auxiliary.{{Cite news |title=Dairy & Equipment Sale |pages=55 |work=Greeley Daily Tribune |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-nov-26-1976-p-55/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021070259/https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-nov-26-1976-p-55/ |url-status=live }}

Leader's population was 19 in 1940.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTcjAQAAMAAJ |title=The Attorneys List |publisher=United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Attorney List Department |year=1940 |page=154 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-03 |archive-date=2022-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103000157/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTcjAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}

Oil drilling near Leader occurred in the 1950s, with the discovery of what the Brush, Colorado News-Tribune called "major" new oil reserves in the Leader area. Drilling commenced at the {{convert|2000|acre}} Burkhart Ranch in 1954.{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1954 |title=Oil Drilling Lively With Dozen New Locations in Morgan County |pages=1 |work=The Brush News-Tribune |publisher=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=BNT19540826-01.2.12&srpos=4&e=-------en-20--1-byDA-img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader%252c+in+adams%2522-------0------ |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2022-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023031533/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=BNT19540826-01.2.12&srpos=4&e=-------en-20--1-byDA-img-txIN%257ctxCO%257ctxTA-%2522leader%252c+in+adams%2522-------0------ |url-status=live }}

The Leader School, a one-room schoolhouse, operated until 1956, when Adams County's schools were consolidated; students were afterwards bused to Byers, 12 miles to the south in Arapahoe County.{{Cite book |last=Cartwright |first=Nyla Gair |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtlmDwAAQBAJ&dq=%2522leader+school%2522%252B%2522adams+county%2522&pg=PA53 |title=From the Black Isle to the Bijou |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-387-82370-3 |page=53 |language=en |access-date=2022-10-23 |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214224321/https://books.google.com/books?id=BtlmDwAAQBAJ&dq=%2522leader+school%2522%252B%2522adams+county%2522&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}

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Derby, Colorado

{{Adams County, Colorado}}

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Category:Geography of Adams County, Colorado