<P> The first Europeans to visit the region were Spanish conquistadors . Juan de Oñate who lived until 1626 , founded what would become the Spanish province of Santa Fé de Nuevo México among the pueblos of the Rio Grande on July 11 , 1598 . In 1706 Juan de Ulibarri claimed the territory of Colorado . In 1787 Juan Bautista de Anza established the settlement of San Carlos near present - day Pueblo , Colorado , but it quickly failed . This was the only Spanish attempt to create a settlement north of the Arkansas River . Colorado became part of the Spanish province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain . The Spaniards traded with Native Americans who lived there and established the Comercio Comanchero ( Comanche Trade ) among the Spanish settlements and the Native Americans . </P>
where was the first post explorer settlement located in colorado
the Spanish province of Santa Fé de Nuevo México among the pueblos of the Rio Grande