Millions of years ago this area was a lake and even today fossils and shells can still be found.

Elevation here is 7,000 feet making the native grasses some of the richest anywhere on the front range.  In addition to rolling grass lands, dense forests of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Red Cedar, and Aspen grow well here.

Wildlife is plentiful with antelope, deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, coyotes, mountain lions, and mountain goats.

Many large birds nest here such as hawks, turkey vultures, and eagles.  Smaller birds like robins, doves, finchs, boblinks, blackbirds, wild canarys and hummingirds are abundant.  When Spring Valley was settled in 1860 buffalo were plentiful.

Spring Valley was of importance to Colorado from 1865 into the early 1900's.  Most of the activity slowed down in 1885.  The population was stated as 100 in 1887.  This tiny settlement was a place for protection from Indians for early settlers because of the fort built circa 1860 on the Pollock Ranch Southeast of the Spring Valley school house.  In 1874, 200 Ute Indians were camped a mile southeast of the school house during the month of July.  Two other forts were in  Southern Douglas County at this time one being Oakes Folly located at Huntsville just east of Larkspur and Fort Washington on the Ben Quick Ranch located west of highway 105.

Indians were very much a problem at this time.  Some of the open areas were once heavily treed but had to be cleared so settlers could see who was coming.

Mountain men inhabited the area from the Bijou Basin (just North of Peyton) into Spring Valley.  Game was abundant and Cherry Creek provided trapping opportunities.  It is said herds of 200 or more elk could be seen at a time.

A post office was established in 1865 with George Redman the first postmaster until he was killed by Indians.  The office closed in 1885, and the mail was then delivered from Palmer Lake and Monument and then from Greenland.

George W. Redman, Joseph Gile, and Abel Lincoln were the first settlers in the area.  George Redman and Abel Lincoln were killed by Indians.  Abel Lincoln is buried somewhere below Lincoln Mountain located just North of Spring Valley Cemetery.

Potatoes, turnips, wheat and oats were some of the crops grown.  When potato crops were  good, potato bakes were held in Monument, Elbert, and Elizabeth around 1895.  it is said important figures would be invited to come  such as the Governor.

Spring Valley was a stage stop on the Cherokee Trail stage route from Frankstown south to Colorado City, being the only settlement between the two cities.  The stop was located on the  Gile ranch  which sported a hotel in 1864 when Colorado was still a territory.  A toll road was established February 9, 1866 from Frankstown South to Spring Valley and was called the Frankstown & Gile station wagon road.  One can still see the rutts in the pasture just West of this site.

A general store was built just west of the school house and run by Jacob Geiger another early settler here.  Jacob and his brother John were escorting Confederate prisoners to Ft. Bent when they first came through Spring Valley. They both loved the area and later each proved up a homestead in 1879.  The Geiger Family still ranches the original homestead being the 4th generation on the ranch. The store was burned in 1886 when the stage driver came down with Smallpox and  had slept in the backroom of the store.

Jacob Geiger - 1864

Many a plague hindered the early pioneers such as diphtheria, smallpox, and scarlet fever.

The Spring Valley School was built around 1865 as the third school in Douglas County.  The school was disbanded in 1945 and children sent to other schools.   All early schools were used for other things such as churches with traveling circuit preachers, grange meetings, and funeral parlors.

The Spring Valley Cheese Factory was located just east of the schoolhouse site.  Because of the rich grass in the area dairy cattle ranches were prevalent.  Sometimes referred to as Tipparrarri many dances were held in the big barn after the cheese operation was discontinued.  It is said that bootlegging was plentiful in this area and the booze would be hidden in West Cherry Creek and then picked up if not stolen first and then taken to the dance.

Many cheese factories were established in addition to Spring Valley one being the Williams Cheese Factory in Williamsville  or Cherry now known as the Emil Anderson Ranch, and the Frink Cheese Factory in Larkspur, famous for black canyon cheese.

The Spring Valley cemetery was donated by William Holden to the people of Spring Valley.  Buried there are many pioneers of Douglas County the oldest graves being in 1868.  Some Indians are buried in this spot because the Indians thought this to be safe on place on top of the hill.