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G.W. Swink
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George Washington Swink
In 1871, George Washington Swink arrived from Illinois, and
when he crossed The Rocky Ford
The town moved from the ford (old Rocky Ford) to its present location in
1884, when the railroad laid the tracks in their present location.
The town was incorporated in 1887, with G. W. Swink
as its
1887 was a busy year for Mr. Swink. In this year he had a land sale. Mr. Swink owned most of the property around the town, and he sold land to the people. Most of the abstracts of the property within 8 blocks on either side of the railroad tracks begin with the name G.W. Swink. He began the Arkansas Valley Fair, which has run continuously since that time, and he was granted the first Timber Claim Certificate in the United States, which was signed by President Grover Cleveland on November 3, 1887.
In 1899, as a result of the Mr. Swink's efforts, the construction of the Sugar Factory began, and in 1900 the first sugar campaign began. It lasted for 61 days. The sugar factory was very important in the development of Rocky Ford. The American Crystal Sugar Factory closed in 1979.
In 1904, Mr. Swink was appointed to the head of the State of Colorado's
agriculture and Mr. Swink was a State Senator (2 terms), he was the first Mayor (he was elected seven times as Mayor), and he was one of the original three County Commissioners, when they formed Otero County. G.W. Swink died in 1910. He was 74 years old at the time.
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Crossing on Arkansas
River, he decided to live here. He and Asa Russell built a store,
and they were partners. Mr. Swink was a farmer and he developed
the watermelon and cantaloupe industry, for which Rocky Ford is famous
throughout the United States. He also started the canal system in
the area, when in 1873; he began construction of the Rocky Ford Ditch,
and was instrumental in developing the Catlin and Highlind Canals.
In 1878, he introduced honey
bees so that they would pollinate his crops, and in 1879, he grew the
first field of alfalfa. The alfalfa fields really paid off for Mr. Swink because these crops were excellent feed for his bees, and they
began producing excellent quality honey. His watermelon and
cantaloupe crops prospered as a result of the pollination from the bees.
During this same year, Mr. Swink began the tradition of Watermelon Day,
which continues to this day.
first Mayor. In this year he invented the cantaloupe crate, which
is still used today in the same form. Before this invention
cantaloupes were shipped in barrels.
horticultural display at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.
He displayed his products from the Arkansas Valley, and he was awarded
many first place prizes for his displays.