Eastonville, Colorado, El Paso County is a town that once stood as a tribute to the bustling days of the railroad expansion but has now faded into obscurity. Eastonville’s allure lies in its history and the remnants of its past glory. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: El Paso County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 39.0942° N, 104.5825° W
Elevation: Approximately 7,000 feet (2,134 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone (MT)
Established: 1881
Disestablished: Not formally disestablished, but declined significantly by the 1930s
Comments: Eastonville was established in the late 19th century as a hub for the Denver and New Orleans Railroad. Its economy thrived on the railroad industry and agriculture, particularly potato farming. However, the decline of the railroad and a devastating fire in the 1930s led to its downturn.
Remains: Today, Eastonville is marked by sparse ruins, including a few building foundations, remnants of the railroad tracks, and scattered artifacts. The town’s cemetery still exists, offering a glimpse into its past.
The area around Eastonville began settlement around 1872 when a post office was established a mile south of its eventual location on Squirrel Creek. The area was located in the Black Forest of Colorado and was found to be suitable for potato farming and many pioneers homesteaded in the vicinity.
In 1881, the Denver and New Orleans Railroad (later the Colorado and Southern Railway) laid their tracks through the area and created a stop named “McConnellsville” near what is now Eatonville; this was the main standard gauge line from Colorado Springs to Denver until the 3-foot-gauge Denver and Rio Grande were 3-railed. Shortly after, in 1883, the area post office was moved north and named “Easton” for a local pioneer, John Easton.
The town soon became Eastonville. At the railroad’s behest, it moved a short distance to its current site.
Current Status: Eastonville is a ghost town with no active community or municipal functions. It is a historical site often visited by those interested in Colorado’s ghost towns.
Remarks: Eastonville’s story poignantly reminds us how towns once pivotal to the economy can fade away. Its remaining structures and cemetery continue to draw visitors who wish to connect with history and reflect on the transient nature of human settlements.
Eastonville continued as a stable town until the 1930s, when drought and depression hit the west. In 1935, the area endured a potato blight and a flood, which washed away many buildings in Elbert, the next town north on the railroad; the railroad was then abandoned.
The town couldn’t recover without the railroad, especially since Peyton (6 miles away) still had the Rock Island railroad. Although few buildings and the cemetery remain, as of May 2013 the United States Board on Geographic Names still lists Eastonville as a populated place.
