Brief History of Milliken

Milliken’s history starts with the settlement of Hillsboro in the 1860’s. Hillsboro was the trade center for the immediate area and was located just adjacent to present day Milliken. Established in 1907, Milliken was named after Judge John D. Milliken, a pioneer lawyer who helped establish the Denver, Laramie, and Northwestern railroad (DL&N). With the growth of the sugar beet industry and its transport, Milliken was a hub of commerce in northern Colorado.

A disastrous fire, the first of several, hit the town in 1911 and destroyed three businesses. Other fires, and a decline in railroad transport dealt their blows to the community. Many changes have happened in Milliken in the last 20 years. The streets were unpaved even into the early 1980’s. The Town continues to grow and still benefits from the land that first drew settlers and developers. Milliken now boasts a population of over 5600, and welcomes all its new residents.

Visit their website!