Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado Grand Junction Mesa Colorado USA http://sws.geonames.org/5423573/about.rdf Grand Junction, Colorado - Geolocation 115 On September 4, 1881, the first settlers arrived in the area. By September 26, 1881, they selected Section 14 as the place where they wished to establish a town. On October 13, 1881, the articles of incorporation were filed in Gunnison, the Gunnison County seat, to establish the City of Grand Junction. The articles of incorporation received their first amendment in 1882 and their second amendment in 1883. The 1883 articles of incorporation were filed in Mesa County since it had come into existence a few months prior. According to local historian Kenneth Baird, the first elected officials in town included Mayor Charles Shanks, Recorder Patrick Westmoreland, Trustee George W. Thurston, Trustee John W. Russell, Trustee A.K. Miller, and Trustee W.F. Gerry. Appointed officers included Marshall James Davis, Police magistrate John Blenwell, Teasurer Owen Russell, Street commissioner Henry Hall, and Town Attorney William Miller. In 1883, attorney Thomas B. Crawford was authorized by the city council to sell and convey land or real estate to be managed by the Grand Junction Town Company for the benefit of the town. This arrangement led to a sometimes power struggle between the city and the Town Company. The original Home Rule Charter, written by James W. Bucklin and adopted by Grand Junction in 1910, rid the city of the “weak mayor system” and established a commission form of government. The city charter established ranked or preferential voting for perhaps the first time in the United States. It also established mechanisms for ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls. In 1922, following advocacy by Daily Sentinel publisher Walter Walker, ranked voting and the commission form of government were both abolished. They were replaced by a city manager system of government with a seven-person elected council of non-partisans. The first council included, L.O. Marshall of District A, V.G. Miller of District B, W.R. Dowery of District C, W.E. Meders of District D, M.P. Hanson of District E, and at-large members William Murr and Walter G. Hirons. In 1957, the city held its Diamond Jubilee celebration to commemorate 75 years since the city’s founding. Festivities included staged gun fights at Noon on Main Street, a pageant in Lincoln Park, and a parade. yes yes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Junction,_Colorado349