The town was named for Calvin Ward, who prospected a claim in 1860 on the site known as Miser's Dream.Eberhart, Perry (1959). Guide to the Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, p. 100. Denver: Sage Books. The town boomed the following year with the discovery by Cyrus W. Deardorff of the Columbia vein. Over the next several decades the population fluctuated, growing from several hundred to several thousand before declining once again. The mines in the area remained profitable for many decades, with one mine eventually producing over of silver. A post office with the name Ward District was established January 13, 1863; the name was changed to Ward, September 11, 1894.Bauer, William H., Ozment, James L., Willard, John H. (1990) Colorado Post Offices, 1869–1989, p. 148. Golden, Colorado: The Colorado Railroad Museum. . The city was incorporated in June 1896. The railroad reached the area in 1898, arriving over the Whiplash and Switzerland Trail, which climbed over from Boulder over the course of . In January 1900 over 50 buildings were destroyed by a devastating fire, although the profitability of the mines led to the immediate rebuilding of the town. The town was largely deserted by the 1920s, but the construction of the Peak-to-Peak Highway in the 1930s led to a revival of the town. During WWII the town's year-round population dropped to four people. Then, in the 1960s, the town's population jumped from between 10 and 20 year-round residents to well over 100 due to the town's interest to hippies.
THE tOWN was NAmed fOr calvin Ward, who PrOspEcteD A clAim iN 1860 oN ThE site kNown aS mISEr's dreAm.eBErHart, pErry (1959). guiDe To tHe Colorado gHOST toWns and miNiNG cAMps, p. 100. dEnveR: sagE bOOkS. The TOwn boomed ThE followiNg YeAr with tHe DiscoVery BY CyruS W. deArdorfF oF tHE colUmBiA VeiN. over The NExt sEveral dEcADEs ThE PopuLaTIon fluctuATeD, GrOWInG From several Hundred to SEvErAl tHoUsAnd befOre decliNing once AGaiN. The MinEs In The areA remained PROfiTAbLe fOr maNy DecadEs, wIth one mine EvenTuAlLY pRoduciNG ovEr of SilveR. a poSt office wItH the Name wArd diStrict Was EstaBlIshEd JANuARy 13, 1863; the NamE Was ChAnGed TO wArd, septemBeR 11, 1894.bAueR, wIlliam H., OzMent, james l., wilLArD, johN h. (1990) coloradO Post oFfiCEs, 1869–1989, p. 148. goldeN, cOlorado: THE cOlorado raIlrOAD MuseUM. . the ciTy waS iNCorPorated in juNe 1896. The railroAd REacheD tHE arEa in 1898, aRRIving Over tHE whipLasH And sWitzerland trail, which climbed oVer frOM BOUlDer ovEr the courSe oF . in jAnUAry 1900 oveR 50 buILdings were dEstroyed bY A DeVastatING fire, althoUgH the profiTabIlitY oF THe mineS led to the ImmeDiAte rebuILDing of tHE Town. the TOwn WAs largelY DeSeRTEd by the 1920s, bUT tHE coNstruCtioN of ThE peaK-to-peak hIGhwAy iN thE 1930s leD to a reViVaL of tHe tOwN. durING wwii the toWn'S yEar-round populAtIoN droPped To Four peOPle. then, in tHe 1960S, THe town'S poPulATion juMpEd from betwEEn 10 and 20 YeaR-round Residents tO well over 100 duE TO the tOwn's inTEResT to hipPies.