Pierce, Colorado

Pierce was founded in 1869 and named for John Pierce, then president of the Union Pacific Railroad. It was hoped the UP would build a line through Pierce and soutyhward into Colorado. The next year, the Denver Pacific Railroad did just that. The first post office, depot and telegraph office were housed in a box car on the siding. A depot was finally built in 1905 and demolished in 1963. By that time, the railroad's fortunes were declining and more and more of the local agricultural freight was being trucked on the paved highways. Today, Pierce is a small collection of gravel streets with Main Street being the one paved street that is not part of US Highway 85. There is still a grain elevator, tavern, grocery store and a few other small businesses in town.

The Pierce grain elevators