Prosperity, Colorado: Fictitious Community in a Very Real Place

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I made it up. Most of it, that is.

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As far as my research can uncover, there never has been, nor is there now, a place called Prosperity in the state of Colorado (nor in what was once the Colorado Territory). “Prosperity” seemed like a name that miners would come up with in order to draw prospective brides. Naming it Mud Hole wouldn’t have been nearly so attractive.

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Prosperity: A Very Real Place

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So while a place named Prosperity is fictional, virtually everything else is based on history. Colorado’s rich mining history. Factual products. Documented circumstances. And patterned after many other similar historical towns.

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Kristin Holt | Prosperity, Colorado: Fictitious Community in a Very Real Place. Vintage photograph: Leadville, Colorado circa 1880. "Cabinet Card Photograph of the Silver Mining Boomtown of Leadville, Colorado." The photograph is titled "Capitol Hill Leadville" in handwirting on reverse. (Extensive mining works can be seen on the hill that rises on the far side of town.) Image: Public Domain, Wikipedia.

Leadville, Colorado circa 1880. “Cabinet Card Photograph of the Silver Mining Boomtown of Leadville, Colorado.” The photograph is titled “Capitol Hill Leadville” in handwirting on reverse. (Extensive mining works can be seen on the hill that rises on the far side of town.) Image: Public Domain, Wikipedia. Note the blend of architectural styles: frame houses, log cabins, three-story buildings, flat-fronted businesses.

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Leadville, Colorado, the nearest railroad hub, isn’t just the town down the canyon from Prosperity where our cast of miners meet the mail order brides. It’s a real place. Leadville played a leading role in the era and much mining took place in Leadville and surrounding areas. That’s partly why it made the cut when railroad companies determined where to lay tracks and which towns would receive this honor. And which would be bypassed.

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Kristin Holt | Prosperity, Colorado: Fictitious Community in a Very Real Place. Vintage photograph of Leadville, Colorado dated 1879. Image: Pinterest

Vintage photograph of Leadville, Colorado dated 1879. Image: Pinterest

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All descriptions of nature around Prosperity is accurate. I’ve vacationed in the Colorado Rockies and live in the Rocky Mountains myself. I put a dot on the map in the canyon and created a high mountain valley where Prosperity would reside. For that altitude, region, and forest, I looked up everything from genus and species of deciduous and coniferous trees to average rainfall, average temperatures, and details on climate. I researched the county wherein my mining camp is and took into consideration their history, commerce, mining’s influence, and more.

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Hence the blend of fiction with reality.

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2 Comments

Jodee Steffensen on July 6, 2015 at 7:36 AM

It’s amazing how much time it takes to research when it comes to writing. I spent most of my time in research when I work on my historicals – find it difficult to get to the actual writing. I’m impressed, though, with the depth of research you did for Prosperity. It is certainly reflected in your stories. I bet the best part were the vacations to check out the site – wish I could make it to England more often!!!
- Kristin Holt on July 6, 2015 at 9:31 PM
  
  Hi Jodee!
  Thanks for stopping by. I agree, research can take a great deal of time, and it’s a joyful (usually) process. Thanks for your contribution!
  Best,
  Kristin