Brothels, Bordellos, and Bad Girls : Prostitution in Colorado, 1860-1930

Prostitution thrived in pioneer Colorado. Mining was the principal occupation and men outnumbered women more than twenty to one.

Jan MacKell provides a detailed overview of the business between 1860 and 1930, focusing her research on the mining towns of Cripple Creek, Salida, Colorado City, and similar boomtown communities.

She used census data, Sanborn maps, city directories, property records, marriage records, and court records to document and trace the movements of the women over the course of their careers, uncovering work histories, medical problems, and numerous relocations from town to town.

She traces many to their graves, through years filled with abuse, disease, narcotics, and violence.

MacKell has unearthed numerous colourful and often touching stories, like that of the boy raised in a brothel who was invited to play with a neighbour's children and replied, "No, my mother is a whore and says I am to stay at home."