Some key dates in Cortezs early history follow:
Dec. 15, 1886 Cortez is platted by M.J. Mack, engineer for Montezuma Valley Water Supply Co.
Dec. 22, 1886 Plat for Cortez is filed in Durango. This was before Montezuma County was formed out of the western portion of La Plata County.
Dec. 25, 1886 Nick Crone and Matt Hammond haul the first load of lumber used to build Cortez.
Jan. 1, 1887 First business opens on the corner of Main and Market streets. F.M. Goodykoontz, a chef, erects a 12- by 14-foot tent restaurant and serves as many as 90 meals per day to hungry men working on the new ditch system.
Jan. 15, 1887 Maj. E.H. Cooper, a Union veteran, builds a house for his home and real estate office.
June 21, 1887 U.S. post office established in Cortez.
April 16, 1889 Cortez becomes county seat when Montezuma County is formed out of the western portion of La Plata County.
Sept. 27, 1902 Town of Cortez government is incorporated.
February 1952 Population grows enough for Cortez to become a city.
October 1957 City of Cortez government, a home rule charter, is formed.
SOURCES: June Head, historian, Montezuma County Historical Society; Great Sage Plain to Timberline: Our Pioneer History, Volumes 1 and 3.