How Trinidad, Colorado Got Its Name: Holy Trinity and Three Peaks

Trinidad, Colorado—incorporated 1866, Las Animas County seat—owes its name to a convergence of faith and geography observed by its first postmaster.

The Naming Moment (1868)

Thomas Boggs, appointed postmaster in 1868, chose "Trinidad" (Spanish for "Trinity") for two intertwined reasons:

1. Holy Trinity Catholic Church: The nearby church—central to the Hispanic community—was dedicated to the Holy Trinity (La Santísima Trinidad)
2. Three-Peaked Mountain Ridge: A prominent nearby ridge displayed three distinct summits that Boggs interpreted as a natural representation of the Trinity

Historical Context

• Spanish/Mexican Heritage: Region was part of Spanish New Mexico, then Mexican territory until 1848; Hispanic families (Baca, Chavez, Lucero) long established
• Santa Fe Trail: Trinidad became key stop on Mountain Branch (1821-1880)
• Coal Boom: 1870s-1910s transformed town into mining center (30+ mines)
• Bat Masterson: Famous lawman served as marshal 1882

Name Evolution

• Pre-1868: Known as Plaza de los Manzanares or Trinidad Plaza informally
• 1868: Official post office designation "Trinidad" recorded
• 1876: Incorporated as Town of Trinidad
• 1879: Incorporated as City of Trinidad

The name perfectly encapsulates Trinidad's dual identity: Hispanic Catholic roots (church dedication) and dramatic geography (three peaks)—a frontier town where spiritual and physical landscapes aligned in the postmaster's imagination.