Cisco (Grand) was at the mouth of Cisco Wash on US-6 (I-70) in the early days. It was an ore and coal shipping, outfitting, and supply center that was initially settled around 1887 by John Martin, a surveyor. Large ranches developed in the surrounding countryside and numerous holding corrals were built for loading livestock onto trains. Today it is much smaller in size and importance. Although the name origin is unclear, one refernce said cisco means broken pieces of coal or coal dust. Another suggests it is an Indian name for a type of fish. In Spanish, cisco means disturbance or row. A frontier cattle and minig town usually has a wild reputation, so this seems the most likely name origin. Since I-70 now bypasses Cisco, the town will probably shrink even further.

John W. Van Cott