Cortez is a town in Montezuma County, Colorado, near the Four Corners and Mesa Verde National Park. The town dates back to the 1880's, when it was built to accommodate the hundreds of workers who built the irrigation ditches and tunnels needed to divert water from the Dolores River into the Montezuma Valley.
In 1890, the town of Cortez consisted only of a mercantile and a bank; the area around Cortez was known for cattle operations, apple orchards and farming.
The town continued to prosper between 1900 and 1910, as new storefronts and homes emerged.
In 1911, the town experienced a flood that washed out much of its complex irrigation system. For the next several years, Cortez and the surrounding area experienced a decline in the growth of its industries and population.
In the 1930's, Cortez was known for its dairy industry. Once again, the town started to expand, with a new high school and courthouse the most notable additions.
Cortez experienced another boom in the 1950's as people searched for yellowcake uranium. Soon, a slow economy hit, and businesses and houses were boarded up.
In the 1970's, many of the old buildings in Cortez were renovated. In 1980's, the primary sources of revenue for Cortez were government, tourism and agriculture.