A Brief History of Del Norte
Del Norte’s history reflects the agricultural settlement of the Rio Grande valley. The town identifies 1872 as its establishment year, while nearby ranches preserve other early settlement stories. John Claus Off established the Off Island Ranch around 1872 on land largely surrounded by the Rio Grande. George and Sarah Fuchs founded their ranch in 1880, raising horses alongside hay and grain. Historic log buildings at the Keck Homestead date from the mid-1870s. The community’s volunteer fire department began serving Del Norte in 1892, another lasting institution from its nineteenth-century growth.