The History Behind Grand Junction's Name And Growth

Grand Junction, Colorado, is the largest city between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2025, our city's population is about 71,870 residents. That's a big jump from the 200 or so people living here when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad arrived.

Did you know that in early 1882, Grand Junction went by not one, but two different names before settling on the one we know today?

Why “Grand Junction”? The Rivers’ Role

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As you may know, Grand Junction takes its name from the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. It was the 'Grand' Junction because, before an act of Congress in 1921, the Colorado River was named the Grand River. Today, the 'Grand Junction' can be found near Dos Rios Park on Riverside Drive. The rivers made farming, irrigation, and orchards possible.

Ute, West Denver & Bellyache Flats

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A 1957 article in the Grand Junction Sentinel says early settlers once nicknamed Grand Junction “Bellyache Flats." During those early years, new settlers would arrive and drink the waters of the Grand and Gunnison Rivers. Some would suffer dysentery and typhoid, while others died.

Residents of Grand Junction’s 81501 zip code are living in the part of the city that was briefly known as Ute, between February and May of 1882. Before its incorporation in July 1882, Denver investors pushed hard for the name West Denver. The hope was that West Denver would show the capital’s economic reach and attract more settlers.

Not Just One Grand Junction in the U.S.

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In the end, locals choose "Grand Junction" to reflect our unique geography and significance as a river confluence—not just a footnote to another city. There are at least four places in the United States named Grand Junction. In addition to Grand Junction, Colorado, there is also a Grand Junction, Iowa, a Grand Junction, Michigan, and a Grand Junction, Tennessee.

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