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HISTORY CLOSEST FREEWAYS: I-70 & Highway 40 APPROXIMATE POPULATION: 6510 Since the 1300s, the Utes had used these springs as a focal point for their summer homes. In 1865, 3 French trappers riding along the Yama River looking for game heard a chugging sound. Trying to figure out what could make such a noise, they finally agreed that it must be a steamboat. As it turned out the mysterious noise was made by one of the hot springs, but the name "Steamboat Springs" stuck. Ten years after it had been given a name, no one still lived here permanently until hearty James Crawford, showed up in 1875 and built a cabin. But the Utes didn't like the idea of white settlers putting down permanent roots and tried to discourage this by terrorizing anyone who tried. In the 1880s, they were forced onto reservations because they had tried to defend their land. At that same time miners and ranchers were being drawn to the area because of some of the nearby mines. Liking what they saw, and with the Utes conveniently out of the way, they decided to stay. ADD YOUR EXPERIENCES Copyright© 1998-2012 Wynmor Inc. with all rights reserved. American Journeys Terms & Conditions of Use