Cemeteries in Fort Lyon (Unincorporated area)

Fort Lyon, an unincorporated community in Bent County, Colorado, originated as a U.S. Army post established in 1860 along the Arkansas River.

Originally named Fort Wise, it was renamed Fort Lyon in 1862 in honor of Union General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War. The fort played a key role in military operations during the Indian Wars and was closely associated with events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. Located east of Las Animas, the fort was strategically positioned along the Santa Fe Trail and served as a supply and communication center. After its decommissioning in 1897, Fort Lyon was repurposed several times—as a naval hospital, a neuropsychiatric facility for veterans, and later as a state-run facility for housing and rehabilitation. The site attracted both military personnel and civilian workers over the years, many of whom were of Anglo-American, Hispanic, and German descent.

Fort Lyon National Cemetery, established in the 19th century, continues to serve as a burial ground for veterans and local residents.