By August of 1877, Animas City had 45 houses, 150 people, four stores and a post office. Two years later, the official population had grown to 250 and included a justice of the peace and a teacher. Within three years, Animas City had meat markets, druggists, dentists and doctors, blacksmiths, wagon makers, lawyers, liquor stores, livery stables, barbers, carpenters, saloons and a newspaper, The Southwest. The Bank of the San Juan, the first bank in town, opened in September of 1880. Churches and schools were also early institutions in town. Animas City residents established the first school district in La Plata County (Animas No.1).
The citizens of Animas City were a pragmatic bunch. One early ordinance required all able-bodied men between the ages of 21 and 50 to devote two days out of every six months to work on the town's streets and alleys. Non-workers were taxed $2 a day.
Tended streets or not, Animas City's salad days ended in 1880 when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad decided to build its own town, to be named Durango. Located less than a mile to the south, with the modern convenience of a railroad and the full backing of the railroad's real estate company, Durango lured businesses and homeowners alike. Animas City did not stand a chance.
Despite a large-scale exodus to Durango, the much subdued little town still had some scrappy residents. The two towns sat side by side through the early 1900s, the Great Depression and World War II. The strains of a big growth spurt after the war led to Animas City's ultimate demise.
A housing crunch after World War II, combined with an incipient oil boom in the region, sparked the development of properties in both towns. Animas City officials thought they had leverage with Durango, which wanted access to Animas City's sewage lines. Already in debt to Durango for water services, Animas City decided to play hardball and proposed that Durango forgive the water bill debt in exchange for a use agreement for their sewer facilities. Durango did not agree to the terms, and negotiations eventually broke down.
Apparently the old ordinance requiring residents to tend to the streets was not working. The streets and the bridge over the Animas River at 32nd Street needed extensive maintenance and improvements.
In need of water and in debt, Animas City reluctantly addressed the possibility of annexation into Durango. The idea was not well received by many long time residents. Informational meetings were held at the Animas School, followed by a week-long, rather slanted series in the Durango Herald-Democrat. Willis Rice, who grew up in Animas City during the time, said he remembered the controversy very well. "I didn't like it, but I got used to it" he said. On the other hand, many residents like Josephine Yeager appreciated the benefits of the annexation. "My life got much easier because we could get City of Durango water after the annexation," she recalled in a 2003 interview.
The vote on October 28, 1947, approved annexation 294 to 114. The town's ordinance declared that Animas City would officially be annexed into the City of Durango on January 1, 1948, but the first annexation plat was not recorded until May 13.
As part of the annexation, the streets were renamed and the city lots and blocks were renumbered to maintain consistency within Durango. Although the streets in Animas City were originally named for each of the six founders, only William Earl's name has survived as Earl Street at the north end of town.
Jill Seyfarth is an archaeologist, a cultural resource planner, and a resident of Animas City.
