Cisco at a Glance by the 12th Census

: the 1900 Census of Cisco

We verified the 17th Census in the previous post. I decided to go back further in time, to see how the town of Cisco emerged, through the successive Census records. The US Censuses are generally disclosed 72 years after they are taken. But, the 12th Census was released a year later in 1973. This is the oldest Census record of Cisco available today.

As for Cisco, it was enumerated by Joseph Philip Miller (1870−1929) of Moab between June 19 and 20, 1900. 88 persons in 16 dwellings are enumerated in Enumeration District (E.D.) 96.


Most of the residents reside along the Grand/Colorado River upstream from Dewey where a ferry operated to cross the river.

The toll road between Moab and Cisco along the River is to be completed in 1902 by Samuel N. King (1846−1913). King and servants William Andrew and Helen Shideler reside in King's home(Census Dwelling Number 206) at Dewey. Shidelers are the later Cisco Hotel proprietor. Farmer Franz Seigal Hatch (1862−1939) and a boarder reside in Hatch's home(207) at Cottonwood Bend Ranch at Dewey.

Placer miner John Fitzgerald (1842−?) resides in his own home(208) located somewhere between Dewey and Cisco landing.

County surveyor Ernest Elisha Campbell (1837−1937), his wife, his two daughters, and his son reside in his own home(209) at Hidden Owl Ranch, stationary engineer/pumper Charles Edward Johns (1855−1931) occupies the pump house(210), and farmer Augusta Hanson Devine (1857−1938), her three daughters, her son, a servant, and a boarder reside in Devine's home(212) at Bobcat Ranch, all at Cisco Landing.

Farmer Horatio Howard Jacobs (1829−1909) and his son reside in his own home(211) at Westwater. Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad section foreman Frank Fedele Garofalo Roff (1874−1955) and six Japanese servants occupy the section house(213) probably at Westwater.

Farmer Louis Harms (1855−1947), his wife, and his three daughters reside in his own home(214), and stock grower Walter Thomas Goslen (1866−1940), his uncle, his 15 servants, and families reside in Goslen's home(215) upstream of Cottonwood Wash at the foot of the Book Mountains/Cliffs. One of the servants enumerated is Victor Putman Hanson (1841−1920) who will patent the Cisco townsite in 1910.

Railroad section foreman Franklin Clyde Shaw (1879−1961), his wife, his daughter, and seven Japanese servants occupy the section house (or bunk cars concerning the number of persons)(219) probably located at Whitehouse.


Several railroad workers and their families are enumerated in the town of Cisco.
Section foreman John Arrandale (1856−1918), his wife, his son, his two daughters, a boarder who is also a foreman, and 14 Japanese servants occupy the section house (or bunk cars concerning the number of persons)(216). Agent Robert Allen Green (1868−1922), his wife, and a boarder who is a telegraph operator occupy the depot(218). The agent also holds the post of postmaster. Mail carrier William North Newcomb (1870−1926) and his wife reside in a rented home(217) probably located near the depot.

Accordingly, 25 persons reside in 3 dwellings at Cisco. That brings 63 persons to scatter around in the surrounding wilderness.


A decade since the relocation of railroad tracks and Cisco station, all but railroad facilities seem to conquer the wilderness according to the Census. But, the school was established, the hotel opposite the depot operated by the agent got an extension, a grocery store was opened by George Washington Sadler (1864−1921) of Richardson, and a feed store was built by James Milton Waring (1854−1946) of Moab, all in 1898. The town was emerging.

My previous post mentions the Japanese railroad workers enumerated at Cisco. Little-known place names around Cisco are shown in Google Maps below.

: Historical place names around Cisco