Two years earlier, the Pioneer Mining District was founded. It was now possible for the company to take advantage of the situation. In 1879, a rich silver deposit was found in the nearby mountains along iwht lead, zinc and copper. In 1881, Rico became the county seat for newly formed Delores County. The Rio Grande Southern Railroad came through Rico around this time. It had a line that ran from Delores to Ridgeway. The silver crash of 1893 ended the boom town and most businesses closed and people moved away. By 1900, only around 800 people lived in Rico. The town of Dove Creek to the west, with its growing peoplualtion, finally stole the county seat away from Rico in 1946.
Today, many historic buildings still stand in downtown Rico. Included in them are the 1892 Dey Building, 1891 courthose, the first in the county of Delores, 1925 hotel, many mining structures, and many other historic buildings. Although Rico is not a complete ghost town (more of a semi-ghost town with some current residents), it is definately worth a visit.
