In 1861, the Jefferson Rangers, originally founded in 1859 to keep peace in Colorado, were reorganized as the Colorado Rangers. On January 29th, 1923 Governor William Sweet gave an executive order to disband the Rangers, leaving Colorado without statewide police protection until 1935.

On February 21st, 1941, a certificate of Incorporation was issued to the Colorado Mounted Rangers, organized by Governor Teller Ammons as a voluteer group with a single troop in Baily. In 1955, The Colorado Mounted Rangers changed their constitution to form a Squadron of several troops throughout the state.