Settled in 1858 as Rio Frio, the community was later called Dog Town because ranchers used many dogs to round up cattle. In 1871 the townsite was laid out as Colfax, it became the county seat in 1877, and it was renamed for S.J. Tilden, who won the popular vote for U.S. President in 1876. It became a ranching and petroleum center and was noted for its fine rural high school, annual rodeo, and historic sites.