A Brief History of De Beque
De Beque grew from ranching in the Colorado River valley, in traditional Ute country. In spring 1884, physician W.A.E. De Beque and three companions explored the surrounding hills while seeking a ranch site. By 1890, the area had 31 ranches. Cattle raising supported the community for decades, followed by growing energy production in the 1920s. Horses also shaped local life: surrounding herds were rounded up and sold, a legacy recognized by the town’s 2001 wild-horse sanctuary designation. The founder’s 1889 house preserves another connection to the settlement’s early years.