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Telluride, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:42:23Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{About|the city in Colorado, United States|the mid-size crossover SUV produced by Kia of the same name|Kia Telluride}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Telluride, Colorado
| settlement_type = [[Town]]
| motto =

| image_skyline = Telluride Colorado.jpg
| image_caption = Colorado Avenue: As seen from The New Sheridan Hotel
| image_map = File:San Miguel County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Telluride Highlighted 0876795.svg
| mapsize = 250x200px
| map_caption = Location of Telluride in San Miguel County, Colorado

| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =

| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Teddy Errico
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1878
| established_title2 = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = February 10, 1887,
as Columbia
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 =

| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 5.76
| area_land_km2 = 5.76
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi = 2.22
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.22
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 2607
| population_density_km2 = 452.6
| population_density_sq_mi =

| timezone = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
| utc_offset = −7
| timezone_DST = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −6
| coordinates = {{coord|37|56|22|N|107|49|05|W|region:US-CO|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 8754

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 81435
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 08-76795
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2413371<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413371}}</ref>
| website = [http://www.telluride-co.gov/ Town of Telluride]
}}
[[File:Telluride geologic map.jpg|thumb|Telluride [[geological map]] and location of historic mines]]
[[File:Telluride from the ski hill.jpg|thumb|Fall colors in Telluride. View from the ski area, 2010]]

'''Telluride''' is the [[county seat]] of and the most populous town in [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel County]] in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of [[Colorado]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The town is a former [[silver mining]] camp on the [[San Miguel River (Colorado)|San Miguel River]] in the western [[San Juan Mountains]]. The first gold mining claim was made in the mountains above Telluride in 1875, and early settlement of what is now Telluride followed. The town was founded in 1878.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telluride-co.gov/566/History-of-Telluride |title=History of Telluride |website=Telluride, CO - Official Website|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

Telluride sits in a [[Canyon|box canyon]]. Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround it, with [[Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)|Bridal Veil Falls]] situated at the canyon's head. Numerous weathered ruins of old mining operations dot the hillsides. A free [[Gondola lift|gondola]] connects the town with its companion town, [[Mountain Village, Colorado|Mountain Village]], at the base of the ski area. Telluride and the surrounding area have featured prominently in popular culture, and it is the subject of several popular songs. It is especially known for its [[ski resort]] and slopes during the winter, as well as an extensive festival schedule during the summer, including the Hot Air Balloon Festival, which traditionally occurs the first weekend in June.

The [[Telluride Historic District]], which includes a significant portion of the town, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and is also one of [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Colorado|Colorado's 20 National Historic Landmarks]]. The town population was 2,607 in the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name="United States Census 2020">{{cite web | url = https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0876795 | title = Census - Geography Profile: Telluride town, Colorado | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = February 23, 2022}}</ref>

== History ==
===Mining days===
Gold was first discovered in Colorado near present-day Denver, setting off the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush|Pike's Peak gold rush of 1858]]. The Smuggler gold vein above Telluride, and placer gold in the [[San Miguel River (Colorado)|San Miguel River]], were discovered in 1875.<ref name=Voynick>Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555}}</ref>{{rp|51,54}} John Fallon made the first claim in Marshal Basin above Telluride in 1875 and settlement followed. The town of [[Columbia, Colorado|Columbia]] was founded in 1878. The Telluride, Colorado, post office opened at Columbia on July 26, 1880, since the [[United States Post Office Department]] would not approve the name Columbia. Columbia (Telluride since 1887) has been the seat of [[San Miguel County, Colorado]], since the county was created on March 2, 1883. The Town of Columbia was incorporated on February 10, 1887, but the town changed its name to the Town of Telluride a few months later. The town was named after valuable [[ore]] compounds of the [[chemical element]] [[tellurium]], a [[metalloid]] element which forms natural [[telluride (chemistry)|tellurides]], the most notable of which are telluride ores of gold and silver. Although [[Gold chalcogenides|gold telluride]] minerals were never actually found in the mountains near Telluride, the area's [[Mining|mines]] were rich in [[zinc]], [[lead]], [[copper]], silver, and ores which contained gold in other forms.

Telluride began slowly because of its isolated location. In 1881, a [[toll road]] was opened by [[Otto Mears]], which allowed wagons to go where only pack [[mule]]s could go before. This increased the number of people in Telluride, but it was still expensive to get gold-rich ore out of the valley.

In June 1889, [[Butch Cassidy]], before becoming associated with his gang, the "[[Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch|Wild Bunch]]", robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride. This was his first major recorded crime. He exited the bank with [[United States dollar|$]]24,580 (equal to ${{Inflation|US|24850|1889|fmt=c}} today) and later became famous as a bank robber.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/old-text-wrinkles-did-butch-cassidy-survive-083206159.html|access-date=August 15, 2011|title=Old text, new wrinkles: Did Butch Cassidy survive?|agency=Associated Press|first=Mead|last=Gruver|date=August 15, 2011}}</ref>

In 1891, the [[Rio Grande Southern Railroad]], also begun by Mears, arrived in Telluride, eventually building a two-stall engine house, water facilities, a section house and a bunkhouse, sidings, and a depot. It continued further up the valley to end its Telluride branch at Pandora, serving the mines and the town until 1952. The cheaper and consistent transportation for passengers and freight allowed miners and goods to flow into the San Miguel town and ore to flow out to the mills and foundries elsewhere. This brought a brief but unprecedented boom to Telluride before the [[Panic of 1893]].<ref name=NGC_Telluride>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Jerry|title=Telluride, Colorado – Mile Post 45.1 – Elev. 8,756ft|url=http://www.narrowgauge.org/ngc/html/excursion1/excursion1-telluride.html|work=The Narrow Gauge Circle|publisher=Mark L. Evans|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>

Around the turn of the 20th century, there were serious [[trade union|labor disputes]] in the mines near Telluride. The [[Colorado National Guard]] was called out and there were deaths on both sides. [[trade union|Unions]] were formed as miners joined the [[Western Federation of Miners]] in 1896. 1899 brought big changes as union [[strike action]] led most mines to grant miners $3 a day for an 8-hour day's work plus a boarding pay of $1 a day (equal to ${{Inflation|US|1|1899}} today). At this time, workers were putting in 10- to 12-hour days and the mines ran 24 hours a day. [[Occupational safety and health|Work conditions]] were treacherous, with mines above {{cvt|12000|ft|-2}}, a lack of safety measures, and bitter weather in winter months. Even the [[boarding house]]s were precariously placed on the mountainsides.

Telluride's labor unrest occurred against the backdrop of a statewide struggle between miners and mine owners. [[Bulkeley Wells]] was one mine operator considerably hostile to the union. The Telluride Miners' Union was led by [[Vincent Saint John|Vincent St. John]]. The disappearance of mine guard [[William J. Barney]], which Wells declared a "murder", created much intrigue and national interest. The accusations, animosity, [[gun]]play, and expulsions that followed were part of an ongoing struggle throughout Colorado's mining communities which came to be called the [[Colorado Labor Wars]].

In 1891, Telluride's [[L. L. Nunn]] joined forces with [[George Westinghouse]] to build the [[Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant]], an [[alternating current]] [[power station]], near Telluride. The plant supplied power to the [[2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill|Gold King Mine]] {{convert|3.5|mi}} away. This was the first successful demonstration of long-distance transmission of industrial-grade alternating current power and used two {{cvt|100|hp}} Westinghouse alternators, one working as a generator producing 3,000 volts, 133 Hertz, single-phase AC, and the other used as an AC motor.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=31O4upzTHQwC&q=In+1891+Telluride+westinghouse+induction+motor&pg=PA39|title=The Foundations of Vacuum Coating Technology|first=D. M.|last=Mattox|date=January 15, 2013|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=9780080947051|access-date=March 26, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> This hydroelectric AC power plant predated the Westinghouse plant at [[Niagara Falls]] by four years.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Nunn and his brother Paul built power plants in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Mexico, and the Ontario Power plant at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Nunn developed a keen interest in education as part of his electrical power companies, and in conjunction with Cornell University built the [[Telluride House]] at Cornell in 1909 to educate promising students in [[electrical engineering]]. Later, Nunn along with [[Charles Doolittle Walcott|Charles Walcott]], started the non-profit [[Telluride Association]]. Nunn founded [[Deep Springs College]] in 1917.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.deepsprings.edu/history/ |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=Deep Springs College |language=en-US}}</ref>

Telluride's most famous historic mines are the Tomboy, Pandora, Smuggler-Union, Nellie, and Sheridan mines. Beginning in 1939, the hard-rock mining operations in the Red Mountain and Telluride mining districts began a lengthy [[Consolidation (business)|consolidation]] under the [[Idarado Mine|Idarado Mining Company]] (Idarado), now a division of [[Newmont|Newmont Mining]]. The consolidation ended in 1953 with Idarado's acquisition of the Telluride Mines. Idarado kept the underground workings and mill operations open at Telluride's Pandora hard-rock mine until 1978. When the mine officially closed, the [[snow]] which tormented Telluride's miners became the town's new source of income, in the form of [[skiing]] and tourism. The documentary video "the YX factor" chronicles the transition from mining to skiing and the influx of "[[hippie]]s" in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the words of local residents and commentators such as [[Peter Yarrow]] and [[Tom Hayden]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/755239 |title=Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song |date=1983 |publisher=University of Texas Press |doi=10.7560/755239 |isbn=978-0-292-74801-9 |last1=Owens |first1=William A. }}</ref>

[[File:AERIAL VIEW OF TELLURIDE SHOWING NEWLY-CUT SKI TRAILS (IN RIGHT FOREGROUND - NARA - 543746.jpg|thumb|upright|Aerial view of newly cut Boomerang Road (May 1972).]]

===Skiing era===
Mining was Telluride's only industry until 1972 when the first [[Chairlift|ski lift]] was installed by [[Telluride Ski Resort]] founder [[Joseph T. Zoline]] and his Telluride Ski Corporation (Telco). Zoline bought the land for the future resort in 1969 and began to craft the slopes. Along with his mountain manager, Telluride native Bill "Sr." Mahoney, they slowly and thoughtfully put together a plan for the sustained development of Telluride and the region. As mining phased out and a new service industry phased in, the local population changed sharply. Mining families fled Telluride to settle in places like [[Moab, Utah]], where uranium mining offered hope of continued employment. Mining families were replaced by what locals referred to as "[[hippie]]s", young people with a 1960s worldview that often clashed with the values of Telluride's old-timers. These newcomers were characterized as idle "trust funders" drawn to the town for a casual lifestyle and outdoor excitements such as [[hang gliding]], [[Mountaineering|mountain climbing]], and [[kayaking]].

The new population opposed town growth and economic expansion, including growth due to tourism and skiing. At one point, a serious effort was made to ban cars from the city limits and force visitors to use horse-drawn carts. The 1970s had fluctuating snowfalls and economic recession, but the town's music and [[Telluride Film Festival|film festivals]] flourished. They exposed hundreds of thousands to the grandeur of the valley for the first time and created iconic associations with elite entertainers. Meanwhile, ski area founder Joe Zoline worked to develop one of the best mountains in North America for expert skiers,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} and created the infrastructure for tourism that respected Telluride's need to stay small.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

As the final ore carts were rolling out of the Pandora mine, tourists began to discover Telluride's views, skiing, and autumn color changes. After the brutal snow drought of 1976 nearly wiped out the embryonic ski and lodging industry, the town started to rebound economically. In 1978, Ron Allred and his partner Jim Wells bought a stake in the ski area to form the Telluride Company. They expanded the infrastructure by adding a gondola connecting Telluride with the Mountain Village.

During the 1980s, Telluride developed a reputation as "Colorado's best-kept secret", which paradoxically made it one of the better-known resort communities. Wealthy skiers flocked to the mountain all winter, and sightseers kept hotel rooms full all summer. Telluride also became notorious in the drug counterculture as a drop point for Mexican smugglers and a favorite place for wealthy importers to enjoy downtime. The town was even featured in the hit song by [[Glenn Frey]] from ''[[Miami Vice]]'', "Smugglers Blues". Telluride was living up to its Wild West history. This type of attention helped differentiate it from [[Aspen, Colorado|Aspen]]. The festivals and Telluride's bad-boy image attracted celebrities like [[Tom Cruise]], [[Oprah Winfrey]], and [[Oliver Stone]]. By the mid-1990s, Telluride had shed both its mining personality and drug image to establish itself as a premier resort town balancing modern culture with fascinating western history. In 2003, Prospect Bowl, an extension to the ski area opened, providing the resort with many new trails and runs. Most lifts in the area are high-speed quad chairs capable of holding four passengers. The highest lift on the mountain reaches {{convert|12570|ft}}.

==Geography==
Telluride has an elevation of {{convert|8750|ft}} in an isolated spot in Southwest Colorado. From the west, Colorado Route 145 is the most common way into Telluride; two other passes enter the town, [[Imogene Pass]] and [[Black Bear Road|Black Bear Pass]].

On the eastern side of town, there are two waterfalls: Ingram Falls, which is visible from town, and [[Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)|Bridal Veil Falls]] and the Bridal Veil Hydroelectric plant, which are just out of sight from town to the right of Ingram. The power plant house was leased for some time by Eric Jacobson, who restored the house and the generator inside. The hydroelectric plant was built in 1895 to power the Smuggler-Union Mine.

The town is served by air transportation via [[Telluride Regional Airport]] (TEX), once the highest elevation commercial airport in the United States at {{convert|9070|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/20/aspen-telluride-airport-landings/|title=Aspen, Telluride make a list of America's most white-knuckle airport landings|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> The airport is considered challenging by pilots because of frequent adverse weather conditions, high elevation, and the extremely rugged mountain terrain surrounding the airport on nearly all sides. Major airline service is provided seasonally into Montrose (MTJ), approximately {{convert|70|mi}} north by road.

===Climate===
Telluride has a [[humid continental climate]] (Dfb). The coldest month is January, averaging {{convert|18.2|F|C}}, and the hottest July, which averages {{convert|58.7|F|C}}. Precipitation peaks as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer with a dry period in late spring. Telluride gets moderate precipitation all year due to its altitude, averaging {{convert|20.37|in|mm|1}} of [[Quantitative precipitation forecast|water equivalent precipitation]], including {{convert|130.8|in|cm|1}} inches of snow, each year.

{{Weather box
|location = Telluride, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 65
|Mar record high F = 73
|Apr record high F = 78
|May record high F = 83
|Jun record high F = 91
|Jul record high F = 96
|Aug record high F = 91
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 83
|Nov record high F = 73
|Dec record high F = 60

|Jan avg record high F = 50.2
|Feb avg record high F = 51.9
|Mar avg record high F = 57.7
|Apr avg record high F = 66.4
|May avg record high F = 73.7
|Jun avg record high F = 82.0
|Jul avg record high F = 85.3
|Aug avg record high F = 82.2
|Sep avg record high F = 78.4
|Oct avg record high F = 70.8
|Nov avg record high F = 61.3
|Dec avg record high F = 51.4
|year avg record high F = 86.0

|Jan high F = 36.2
|Feb high F = 37.6
|Mar high F = 43.7
|Apr high F = 50.8
|May high F = 60.4
|Jun high F = 72.5
|Jul high F = 76.7
|Aug high F = 74.1
|Sep high F = 68.0
|Oct high F = 57.4
|Nov high F = 45.4
|Dec high F = 36.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 18.2
|Feb mean F = 21.5
|Mar mean F = 28.3
|Apr mean F = 36.4
|May mean F = 44.6
|Jun mean F = 53.3
|Jul mean F = 58.7
|Aug mean F = 57.2
|Sep mean F = 50.8
|Oct mean F = 40.4
|Nov mean F = 29.0
|Dec mean F = 19.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 0.3
|Feb low F = 5.3
|Mar low F = 12.9
|Apr low F = 22.0
|May low F = 28.8
|Jun low F = 34.2
|Jul low F = 40.7
|Aug low F = 40.2
|Sep low F = 33.6
|Oct low F = 23.4
|Nov low F = 12.6
|Dec low F = 1.8
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -17.0
|Feb avg record low F = -12.3
|Mar avg record low F = -5.8
|Apr avg record low F = 9.4
|May avg record low F = 19.0
|Jun avg record low F = 26.5
|Jul avg record low F = 32.8
|Aug avg record low F = 33.0
|Sep avg record low F = 22.9
|Oct avg record low F = 10.4
|Nov avg record low F = -7.4
|Dec avg record low F = -15.1
|year avg record low F = -19.7

|Jan record low F = -32
|Feb record low F = -36
|Mar record low F = -24
|Apr record low F = -10
|May record low F = 3
|Jun record low F = 15
|Jul record low F = 26
|Aug record low F = 22
|Sep record low F = 9
|Oct record low F = -3
|Nov record low F = -22
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.45
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.38
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.61
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.71
|May precipitation inch = 1.60
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.37
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.60
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.34
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.56
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.53
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.37
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.6
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.5
|May precipitation days = 9.1
|Jun precipitation days = 5.3
|Jul precipitation days = 12.7
|Aug precipitation days = 14.9
|Sep precipitation days = 11.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.8
|Dec precipitation days = 9.2

|Jan snow inch = 23.6
|Feb snow inch = 22.0
|Mar snow inch = 22.7
|Apr snow inch = 13.1
|May snow inch = 5.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.7
|Oct snow inch = 5.3
|Nov snow inch = 18.7
|Dec snow inch = 19.3
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 9.5
|Feb snow days = 9.2
|Mar snow days = 8.5
|Apr snow days = 6.1
|May snow days = 1.9
|Jun snow days = 0.1
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.3
|Oct snow days = 2.1
|Nov snow days = 6.3
|Dec snow days = 9.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 21.3
|Feb snow depth inch = 23.2
|Mar snow depth inch = 21.5
|Apr snow depth inch = 10.3
|May snow depth inch = 3.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.3
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.3
|Oct snow depth inch = 3.4
|Nov snow depth inch = 9.9
|Dec snow depth inch = 12.8
|year snow depth inch = 26.4

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00058204&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Telluride 4WNW, CO
|access-date = November 15, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 15, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
| 1890= 766
| 1900= 2446
| 1910= 1756
| 1920= 1618
| 1930= 512
| 1940= 1337
| 1950= 1101
| 1960= 677
| 1970= 553
| 1980= 1047
| 1990= 1309
| 2000= 2221
| 2010= 2325
| 2020= 2607
| footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,221 people, 1,013 households, and 357 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3,143.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 1,938 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,742.8|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the town was 92.57% White, 0.81% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.41% African American, 4.14% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.20% of the population.

There were 1,013 households, out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.7% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 14.3% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 50.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 1.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 127.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,938, and the median income for a family was $66,136. Males had a median income of $35,329 versus $30,096 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $38,832. About 8.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those aged 65 or over.[[File:Brunswick Saloon Telluride CO c. 1900.jpg|thumb|Brunswick Saloon, Telluride, circa 1900]]

==Transportation==
Telluride is served by [[Telluride Regional Airport]]. Scheduled flight options are limited, due to the airport's somewhat short runway and frequent closures under bad weather, so most passengers going to Telluride use [[Montrose Regional Airport]], {{convert|67|mi}} to the north.

Free public transportation is provided in Telluride. The bus system, called ''Galloping Goose'', makes a complete loop around the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Galloping Goose Route and Information|url=https://www.telluride-co.gov/255/Galloping-Goose-Route-and-Information |access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref> A gondola lift links Telluride with [[Mountain Village, Colorado|Mountain Village]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gondola - Chondola|url=https://townofmountainvillage.com/explore/getting-around/gondola-chondola/ |access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref>

Telluride's free gondola is the only one of its kind in North America. It stops at four stations: Telluride, St. Sophia, and two stops in Mountain Village.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gondola |url=https://www.telluride.com/discover/the-gondola/ |website=Visit Telluride |publisher=Telluride Tourism Board |access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref> It was the first leg of a transportation agreement for the Telluride Region that was stipulated as part of the Mountain Village zoning expansion that would provide free gondola service from the Town of Telluride and the Mountain Village to the Aldasoro Development, the West Meadows Development, the Valley Floor Development, and the West Meadows Development to virtually eliminate the use or need for a car in the Telluride Region of San Miguel County. It is a 13-minute ride and reaches an elevation of {{convert|10540|ft}} at the San Sophia station.

Regional bus service is provided by the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).

Telluride is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] intercity bus service network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
;Major highways
*[[File:Colorado 145.svg|25px]] '''[[Colorado State Highway 145|State Highway 145]]''' is part of the [[San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway|San Juan Skyway]]. It connects Telluride to [[Cortez, Colorado|Cortez]] and [[Naturita, Colorado|Naturita]]. This road also gives access to [[Colorado State Highway 62|State Highway 62]], the main route to [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Montrose, Colorado|Montrose]] and other important places in [[Colorado]].

==In popular culture==

American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Pantera]]’s 1990 ''[[Cowboys from Hell]]'' album cover includes a picture taken in 1910 of what was called the “Cosmopolitan Saloon” in Telluride with the bandmembers pasted over it.<ref> {{cite web |last1=Wilde |first1=Nate |title=Iconic Album Cover is a Doctored Photo of a Colorado Saloon |url= https://95rockfm.com/colorado-saloon-pantera-cover/ |website=95 Rock (KKNN) |date=}}</ref>

[[Clive Cussler]]'s 1998 novel ''[[Atlantis Found]]'' is partially set in Telluride. The novel features signs of an ancient civilization being found in an underground chamber next to a mine outside the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eddy |first1=Mark|title=Fictional Cussler hero back for more |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/books/atlantis1219.htm |website=Denver Post |date=}}</ref>

In Justin Cronin's 2010 novel ''[[The Passage (novel series)|The Passage]]'', Telluride is the site of a secret military compound used to test a purported "longevity drug" on death row inmates.<ref>{{cite book|author=Justin Cronin|title=The Passage: A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hLRAkzKHjIC|date=June 8, 2010|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-345-51686-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kinloch |first1=Adrian |title=The Passage: Excerpt |url=https://www.enterthepassage.com/the-passage-excerpt/ |website=Enter the Passage |date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>

The production of ''[[The Hateful Eight]]'' directed by [[Quentin Tarantino]] began filming near Telluride in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quentin Tarantino Starts Shooting 'Hateful Eight'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/quentin-tarantino-starts-shooting-hateful-eight-1201413017/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Andy |title=Making of 'Hateful Eight': How Tarantino Braved Sub-Zero Weather and a Stolen Screener |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/making-hateful-eight-how-tarantino-852099/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 7, 2016}}</ref>

The [[Coen brothers]] 2018 film ''[[The Ballad of Buster Scruggs]]'' used Telluride as a filming location for the vignette "All Gold Canyon", based on a short story by [[Jack London]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Moon | first=Ra | title=Filming Locations: Where was The Ballad of Buster Scruggs filmed? | website=Atlas of Wonders | date=2018-11-18 | url=https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2018/11/ballad-of-buster-scruggs-filming-locations.html | access-date=2025-10-08}}</ref>

The [[Kia Telluride]] SUV is named after the town.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bomey |first=Nathan |title=Why automakers are naming vehicles after American destinations, like Santa Cruz, Telluride, Taos |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/05/23/hyundai-santa-cruz-kia-telluride-vw-taos-vehicle-names/7301830002/ |work=USA Today |date=May 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What Does Telluride Mean? |url=https://www.auffenbergkia.com/manufacturer-information/what-does-telluride-mean/|work=Auffenberg Kia}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Mountainfilm in Telluride]]
*[[Telluride Daily Planet]]
**[[Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet]]
**[[Telluride Sessions]]
**[[Live at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book| last = Barbour| first = Elizabeth| title = Images of America: Telluride| year = 1999| publisher = Arcadia Publishing| location = San Francisco, Calif.| isbn = 0-7385-4850-2}}
*{{cite book| last = Benjamin| first = Eileen | title = Telluride: Landscapes and Dreams| year = 2000| publisher = Montoya Publishing| location = Telluride, Colo.| isbn = 0-9679986-0-3}}
*{{cite book| last = Buys| first = Christian J.| title = A Brief History of Telluride| year = 2003| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-83-2}}
*{{cite book| last = Buys| first = Christian J.| title = Historic Telluride in Rare Photographs| year = 2006| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-02-6}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.newmont.com/en/pdf/Updates/IdaradoBooklet.pdf |title=The Idarado Legacy |author= |date=2006 |publisher=Idorado Mining Company, subsidiary of [[Newmont |Newmont Mining Corporation]] |location=Denver, Colo. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114909/http://www.newmont.com/en/pdf/Updates/IdaradoBooklet.pdf |archive-date=October 30, 2008}}
*{{cite book| last = Lavender| first = David| others = Photography by George H. H. Huey| title = The Telluride Story| year = 1999| publisher = Wayfinder Press| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 0-9608764-6-4}}
*{{cite book| last = Martin| first = MaryJoy | title = The Corpse on Boomerang Road: Telluride's War on Labor 1899–1908| year = 2004 | publisher = Western Reflections Publishing Company| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-932738-02-9}}
*{{cite book| last = Pera| first = Davine| title = Conversations at 9,000 feet — A Collection of Oral Histories from Telluride, Colorado| year = 2000| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-53-0}}
*{{cite book| last = Richey| first = Duke | others = Illustrated by the children of Telluride Elementary School| title = The mountains are the story: a history of Telluride for children| year = 2000| publisher = Between the Covers Bookstore| location = Telluride, Colo.| isbn = 0-9706361-0-5}}
*{{cite book| last = Smith| first = Duane A.| title = A visit with the Tomboy Bride : Harriet Backus and her friends| year = 2003| publisher = Western Reflections Pub. Co.| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-87-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.telluride-co.gov/}}
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}

{{San Miguel County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Protected areas of Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Telluride, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Colorado]]
[[Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:40:01Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Steamboat Springs, Colorado
| settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
| nickname = Ski Town USA
| motto =

| image_skyline = Steamboat Springs downtown.jpg
| image_caption = Downtown Steamboat Springs in May 2006 with the ski area in the background
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
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| image_map = Routt County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Steamboat Springs Highlighted 0873825.svg
| map_caption = Location of the City of Steamboat Springs in {{nowrap|[[Routt County, Colorado]]}}
| pushpin_map = Colorado#USA
| pushpin_label = {{nowrap|Steamboat Springs}}
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the City of Steamboat Springs in Colorado##Location of the City of Steamboat Springs in the {{nowrap|[[United States]]}}

| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado|City]]
| subdivision_name3 = Steamboat Springs<ref name=COMun/>

| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
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| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date3 = July 19, 1900<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>

| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = US
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 25.64
| area_land_km2 = 25.61
| area_water_km2 = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi = 9.90
| area_land_sq_mi = 9.89
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
| area_water_percent =
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| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank1_km2 =
| area_blank1_sq_mi =

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total = 13224
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census2020">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile?g=1600000US0873825 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=March 1, 2022 }}
</ref>
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset = −7
| timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −6
| coordinates = {{coord|40|28|22|N|106|48|59|W|region:US-CO|display=it|format=dec}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 6867

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=January 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
| postal_code = 80477, 80487, 80488
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 08-73825
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2411976<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411976}}</ref>
| website = [http://www.steamboatsprings.net/ City Website]
}}

'''Steamboat Springs''' is a [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule municipality]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of cities and towns in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Routt County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 13,224 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Steamboat_Springs_city,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0873825 |title=Steamboat Springs city; Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 20, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> Steamboat Springs is the principal city of the Steamboat Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area, and it is the largest city in northwestern Colorado.

The city is a winter ski resort destination, including the [[Steamboat Ski Resort]] on [[Mount Werner]] in the [[Park Range (Colorado)|Park Range]] just east of the town and the much smaller [[Howelsen Hill Ski Area]]. Steamboat Springs has produced more athletes for the [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]] than any other town in North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2018/02/24/secret-steamboats-olympic-success/370928002/|title=The secret to Steamboat's Olympic success|website=Coloradoan|language=en|access-date=April 2, 2020}}</ref>

Steamboat Springs{{snd}}known colloquially as "The Boat"{{snd}}is located in the upper valley of the [[Yampa River]], along [[U.S. Route 40 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 40]], just west of the [[Continental Divide]] and [[Rabbit Ears Pass]]. It is located approximately 150 miles northwest of [[Denver]], and sits approximately 45 miles south of the [[Wyoming]] border.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Denver to Steamboat Springs|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Denver,+Colorado,+USA/Steamboat+Springs,+Colorado+80487,+USA/@40.0516492,-107.0310739,8z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x876b80aa231f17cf:0x118ef4f8278a36d6!2m2!1d-104.990251!2d39.7392358!1m5!1m1!1s0x87427b8109564661:0x1ba8a3d1486ecf7d!2m2!1d-106.8317158!2d40.4849769!3e0?shorturl=1|access-date=April 3, 2021|website=Denver to Steamboat Springs|language=en}}</ref> It is served by [[Steamboat Springs Airport]] (general aviation) and commercial service at nearby [[Yampa Valley Airport]].

== History ==
[[File:DSCN7433 rabbitearsmotel e 600.jpg|thumb|left|Steamboat Springs is a mix of older architecture and newer resort developments, especially near the ski resort on the eastern edge of town.]]
[[File:Steamboat Spring.jpg|thumb|left|The Steamboat Spring, with history marker sign]]
[[File:Routt County Courthouse, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]] Courthouse in Steamboat Springs]]

The area surrounding Steamboat Springs was originally inhabited by the Yampatika band of the [[Ute people|Utes]], who hunted in the valley during the summer. [[animal trapping|Trappers]] began to move through the area during the first decades of the 19th century. [[James Harvey Crawford]], the founder of Steamboat Springs, first arrived in the spring of 1874. The Crawford family moved there in 1876, and for the first five years were the sole permanent white residents of the town. The native Utes were forcibly removed from the area to a [[Indian reservation|reservation]] in [[Utah]] by the U.S. Army starting in 1879. Milestones in the development of the pioneer town included the first sawmill in 1873, incorporation of the town in 1900, and the arrival of the railroad in 1909. The economy of the region was originally based on ranching and mining, which still have a large presence in the county.<ref>Richards, Dee, ''Steamboat Round the Bend'', 1976.</ref><ref>Leckenby, Charles H., ''The Tread of Pioneers'', 1945.</ref><ref>Stanko, Jim; Towler, Sureva; & Seligson, Judy, ''The Historical Guide to Routt County'', 2010</ref>

Steamboat is home to several natural hot springs that are located throughout the area (see Geography). Upon first hearing a chugging sound, early trappers believed that a steamboat was coming down the river. When the trappers saw that there was no steamboat, and that the sound was coming from a hot spring, they decided to name the spring Steamboat Spring.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull27-3/art4.pdf |title=Lund, John W. ''Steamboat Springs, Colorado.'' Sept. 2006. |access-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122221/http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull27-3/art4.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Originally, [[skiing]] was the only method of transportation during harsh and snowy Rocky Mountain winters. In turn, the popularity of skiing as a winter pastime catalyzed development of the town and other communities all over the [[Rocky Mountains]]. In 1913, [[Carl Howelsen]], a Norwegian, moved to town and introduced ski jumping. Howelsen built the first jump on Howelsen Hill, now part of the [[Howelsen Ski Area]]. He also founded the annual Winter Carnival, a celebration still held each winter. The festival includes ski racing and jumping, dog sledding, and chariot events down Lincoln Avenue, the city's main street. Light shows on both Mount Werner and Howelsen Hill are highlights. Howelsen also founded the [[Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club]] and built the town's first ski jumps. The oldest continually operating ski area in North America, Howelsen Hill, now bears his name and is one of just three complete ski jumping complexes in the United States.

The Steamboat Ski Resort was largely established by two local men, Jim Temple and John Fetcher. Temple led the effort to develop the area. Fetcher, a local rancher, was the main designer and builder. The resort opened on what was then called Storm Mountain in 1963.
[[File:Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs.jpg|left|thumb|A kid sledding behind a horse down Main Street during Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs]]
In 1974, The Industrial Company (TIC) was started in Steamboat Springs and has since grown into one of the largest industrial construction companies in the United States with revenues of approximately $2 billion in 2007. The company is one of the largest employers in Routt County and has more than 9,000 employees worldwide.
TIC - The Industrial Company was acquired by Kiewit Engineering and all operations except the Training Center moved elsewhere (Denver, etc.).{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}{{date?}}
The main TIC complex on Routt County Road 129 has been acquired by Yampa Valley Electric Association as their new headquarters, with extensive renovation. This property provides ample areas for offices, vehicle maintenance, and construction laydown activities.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

In 1993, the City Council of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, conducted a poll of its residents to choose a new name for the bridge that crossed the Yampa River on Shield Drive. With 7,717 votes, the winning name was "[[James Brown]] Soul Center of the Universe Bridge". The bridge was officially dedicated in September 1993, and James Brown appeared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/the-godfathers-bridge/|title=The Godfather's bridge|last=Crowl|first=Doug|website=www.steamboatpilot.com|date=June 30, 2002 |language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Historic buildings===
Historic buildings in Steamboat Springs include:
* [[Christian Science Society (Steamboat Springs, Colorado)|Christian Science Society]], at 7th and Oak, was built of logs in 1934 and is now listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
* [[Crawford House (Steamboat Springs, Colorado)|The Crawford House]], at 12th and Crawford, was built of local stone in 1894 by the founder of Steamboat, James Harvey Crawford, and is now listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

==Geography==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Soda Creek at Yampa River confluence.jpg|thumb|upright|Soda Creek, looking toward the Yampa River confluence, by the Bud Werner Memorial Library in Steamboat Springs]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|10.1|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land except for the Yampa River.

The Yampa Valley and surrounding area contain several geothermal [[hot springs]]. The city is named after the Steamboat Spring, located near the present-day library and the old train depot. The spring itself was so named because its bubbling sounded like a steamboat to early settlers.

Though there are no steamboats in the town, except for an allegorical "steamboat" playground in West Lincoln Park which was designed to resemble a steamboat and has since been mostly torn down. The area offers hot springs that are open to the public.

The [[Yampa River]] flows through the middle of town.

===Climate===

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Steamboat Springs has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Steamboat Springs was {{convert|100|F|C|1}} on June 29, 1990, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-54|F|C|1}} on January 7, 1913.

{{Weather box
|location = Steamboat Springs, Colorado (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 57
|Feb record high F = 59
|Mar record high F = 70
|Apr record high F = 79
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 72
|Dec record high F = 64

|Jan avg record high F = 42.5
|Feb avg record high F = 48.4
|Mar avg record high F = 60.1
|Apr avg record high F = 71.7
|May avg record high F = 79.6
|Jun avg record high F = 86.4
|Jul avg record high F = 90.5
|Aug avg record high F = 89.4
|Sep avg record high F = 85.1
|Oct avg record high F = 76.0
|Nov avg record high F = 62.3
|Dec avg record high F = 45.6
|year avg record high F = 91.4

|Jan high F = 29.2
|Feb high F = 34.3
|Mar high F = 44.8
|Apr high F = 54.4
|May high F = 65.1
|Jun high F = 75.9
|Jul high F = 83.1
|Aug high F = 81.5
|Sep high F = 73.5
|Oct high F = 59.3
|Nov high F = 42.9
|Dec high F = 30.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 16.9
|Feb mean F = 21.1
|Mar mean F = 31.2
|Apr mean F = 40.5
|May mean F = 49.6
|Jun mean F = 57.6
|Jul mean F = 64.5
|Aug mean F = 62.8
|Sep mean F = 54.6
|Oct mean F = 42.7
|Nov mean F = 29.7
|Dec mean F = 18.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 4.6
|Feb low F = 7.9
|Mar low F = 17.6
|Apr low F = 26.7
|May low F = 34.0
|Jun low F = 39.2
|Jul low F = 45.8
|Aug low F = 44.2
|Sep low F = 35.7
|Oct low F = 26.1
|Nov low F = 16.4
|Dec low F = 6.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -17.1
|Feb avg record low F = -13.5
|Mar avg record low F = -1.3
|Apr avg record low F = 12.2
|May avg record low F = 22.2
|Jun avg record low F = 29.9
|Jul avg record low F = 36.5
|Aug avg record low F = 35.3
|Sep avg record low F = 24.5
|Oct avg record low F = 11.4
|Nov avg record low F = -3.7
|Dec avg record low F = -14.9
|year avg record low F = -22.1

|Jan record low F = -54
|Feb record low F = -48
|Mar record low F = -34
|Apr record low F = -15
|May record low F = 8
|Jun record low F = 16
|Jul record low F = 21
|Aug record low F = 20
|Sep record low F = 6
|Oct record low F = -16
|Nov record low F = -28
|Dec record low F = -44

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.46
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.92
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.58
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.54
|May precipitation inch = 2.65
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.58
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.72
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.80
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.32
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.22
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.93
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.96
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 14.8
|Feb precipitation days = 13.4
|Mar precipitation days = 10.6
|Apr precipitation days = 12.5
|May precipitation days = 12.7
|Jun precipitation days = 8.3
|Jul precipitation days = 9.4
|Aug precipitation days = 11.7
|Sep precipitation days = 9.5
|Oct precipitation days = 9.3
|Nov precipitation days = 10.4
|Dec precipitation days = 13.4
|year precipitation days = 136.0

|Jan snow inch = 46.6
|Feb snow inch = 35.7
|Mar snow inch = 19.5
|Apr snow inch = 13.2
|May snow inch = 2.8
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.4
|Oct snow inch = 6.9
|Nov snow inch = 23.3
|Dec snow inch = 35.8
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 14.9
|Feb snow days = 14.3
|Mar snow days = 8.7
|Apr snow days = 6.6
|May snow days = 1.5
|Jun snow days = 0.3
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.5
|Oct snow days = 3.1
|Nov snow days = 8.8
|Dec snow days = 14.0

|Jan snow depth inch = 30.5
|Feb snow depth inch = 35.0
|Mar snow depth inch = 27.9
|Apr snow depth inch = 7.5
|May snow depth inch = 1.4
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.2
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.3
|Oct snow depth inch = 3.9
|Nov snow depth inch = 9.9
|Dec snow depth inch = 21.0
|year snow depth inch = 37.7
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00057936&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = August 13, 2023
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
| title = xmACIS2
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = August 13, 2023
}}</ref> }}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 1227
| 1920 = 1249
| 1930 = 1198
| 1940 = 1613
| 1950 = 1913
| 1960 = 1843
| 1970 = 2340
| 1980 = 5098
| 1990 = 6695
| 2000 = 9815
| 2010 = 12088
| 2020 = 13224
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 12,088 people, 5,201 households, and 2,275 families residing in the city. There were 9,966 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 94% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.7% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.5% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/steamboatspringscitycolorado/HEA775218|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Steamboat Springs city, Colorado|website=www.census.gov|language=en|access-date=April 2, 2020}}</ref>

There were 4,201 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were non-families. Additionally, 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age of Steamboat's population was 36.5 years. By sex, the population was 54.2 percent male, 45.8 percent female.

The median income for a household in the city was $54,647, and the median income for a family was $65,685. Males had a median income of $35,536 versus $28,244 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $31,695. About 2.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Housing ==
Steamboat Springs has a severe housing shortage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |date=2022-06-02 |title=An American Town's Challenging Effort to House Everyone |url=https://time.com/6183044/affordable-housing-single-family-homes-steamboat-springs/ |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-04 |title=Steamboat needs more affordable housing. So why did residents reject a major plan fueled by a $24 million donation? |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/08/04/affordable-housing-colorado-steamboat-springs-brown-ranch/ |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> The median housing price for a single family home was $829,000 in 2022, which is up from $529,000 in 2019.<ref name=":0" /> Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $2,100.<ref name=":0" />

Attempts to increase housing supply in Steamboat Springs have been blocked by residents. In 2010, the city council approved a plan to build thousands of condominiums in Steamboat Springs, but residents put the plan up for a ballot initiative where it was soundly defeated.<ref name=":0" /> In 2024, a plan to build nearly 2,300 affordable housing units intended for priced-out workers in Steamboat Springs was blocked by residents in a ballot initiative.<ref name=":1" />

== Education ==
Steamboat Springs is served by Steamboat Springs School District RE-2. The district is home to seven schools:<ref>{{cite web |title=Steamboat Springs School District |url=https://www.steamboatschools.net/ |website=steamboatschools.net}}</ref>
*Soda Creek Elementary School
*Strawberry Park Elementary School
*Steamboat Springs Middle School
*Steamboat Springs High School
*North Routt Community Charter School
*Sleeping Giant School
*Yampa Valley Alternative High School

The city is also home to the Steamboat Springs campus of [[Colorado Mountain College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs |url=https://coloradomtn.edu/campuses/steamboat-springs/ |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=Colorado Mountain College |language=en-US}}</ref> CMC Steamboat Springs is notable for being the only college in the United States offering a degree in Ski & Snowboard Business, which focuses on the retail, manufacturing, and marketing of snowsports.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/ski-and-snowboard-business/ | title=Ski & Snowboard Sports Business Degree }}</ref> In 2022, CMC Steamboat Springs enrolled 2,050 students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Institutional Fact Book |url=https://coloradomtn.edu/contact-departments/institutional-research/cmc-facts/institutional-fact-book/ |publisher=Colorado Mountain College |website=coloradomtn.edu}}</ref>

== Sports ==
[[File:Steamboat springs ski resort.jpg|thumb|left|The ski resort at Steamboat Springs]]
Steamboat Springs offers skiing opportunities and has been the locale for skiing competitions including the [[1989 Alpine Skiing World Cup|1989]] and [[1990 Alpine Skiing World Cup]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The Yampa river is a location for water sports like fishing, rafting, tubing, and kayaking ([[playboating]]). The {{convert|4|mi|km|adj=on}} [[International Scale of River Difficulty|grade II-III]]<ref>[http://www.eddyflower.com/RunDetail.aspx?RunId=468 Steamboat Town Run] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629103202/http://www.eddyflower.com/RunDetail.aspx?RunId=468|date=June 29, 2008}} (retrieved September 29, 2008)</ref> whitewater run through town ends with two surfable [[whitewater#Holes|holes]]. One is called ''D-Hole''; the other one—near the library, close to the Steamboat Spring—is named ''Charlie's Hole'' or ''C-Hole'' for short, after local kayaker Charlie Beavers (1981–2002). Beavers started kayaking at age 12,<ref>[http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/260927 post by Peter Van De Carr in boatertalk.com (23 October, 2002)] (retrieved September 29, 2008)</ref> was the first to explore a number of rivers ("first descents"),<ref>e.g., lower [[Jasper Creek (Colorado)|Jasper Creek]] (near [[Eldora, Colorado]]) in 2001, with pictures of Charlie Beavers: [http://www.coloradokayaking.com/main.php?pageid=Rivers&riverid=jasper41c0d5d5bd66f Nick Wigston: Upper and Lower Jasper, Super Gnar. JASPER: In memory of Charlie Beavers (1981–2002).] (retrieved September 29, 2008)</ref> and successfully contended in playboating competitions. He died in a non-boating accident in 2002. The hole<ref>[http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2003/jun/07/yampa_river_festival/ Erin Ragan (7 June, 2003). Yampa River Festival. Crazy dogs, brave kayakers turn out for 23rd annual event. ''Steamboat Pilot & Today''.] (both retrieved September 29, 2008)</ref> and some kayaking events<ref>''Charlie Beavers Classic'' race: [http://www.steamboatpilot.com/photos/galleries/2007/may/29/paddling_life_pro_invitational/ Paddling Life Pro Invitational] 
''Charlie Beavers Memorial Expedition'': [https://7riversexpedition.blogspot.com/ The 7 Rivers Expedition (blog)] (both retrieved September 29, 2008)</ref> were dedicated to him.

[[File:Steamboat Springs C-Hole.jpg|thumb|Kayakers at Charlie's Hole on the [[Yampa River]]]]
Every year on the first weekend of June, Steamboat Springs organizes the ''Yampa River Festival''. It includes a kayak rodeo (i.e., a playboating competition) which attracts national and international world class playboaters. Additional events include, but are not limited to, a downriver race which is Colorado's only upstream slalom race, and the Crazy River Dog Contest, in which dogs retrieve sticks from the river and may pass a whitewater section.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://coloradoexplorer.com/events/yampariverfestival/view |title=Annual Yampa River Festival |access-date=September 29, 2008 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708175544/http://coloradoexplorer.com/events/yampariverfestival/view |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The defunct ski area [[Stagecoach, Colorado|Stagecoach]] is about {{convert|20|mi|km|spell=in}} south of Steamboat. It lasted two ski seasons, closing in 1974.

== Notable people ==
* [[Debbie Armstrong]] (born 1963), alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist; lives in Steamboat Springs
* [[Chris Baumann]] (born 1987), rugby union player, prop for [[Leicester Tigers]] and [[United States national rugby union team|USA Eagles]]
* [[Nelson Carmichael]] (born 1965), [[mogul (skiing)|mogul skier]] and Olympic bronze medalist; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[James Harvey Crawford]] (1845–1930), founder of Steamboat Springs
* [[Shannon Dunn-Downing]] (born 1972), freestyle snowboarder; raised in Steamboat Springs
* [[Taylor Fletcher]] (born 1990), Nordic combined skier
*[[Arielle Gold]] (born 1996), Olympic bronze medalist and World Champion snowboarder
* [[Taylor Gold]] (born 1993), Olympian snowboarder; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[Carroll Hardy]] (born 1933), former Major League Baseball player; resided in Steamboat Springs
* [[Billy Kidd]] (born 1943), alpine skier and Olympic silver medalist
* [[Caroline Lalive]] (born 1979), alpine skier and two-time Olympian
* [[Todd Lodwick]] (born 1976), Nordic combined skier; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[Verne Lundquist]] (born 1940), television sportscaster; resides in Steamboat Springs
* [[Travis Mayer]] (born 1982), freestyle skier and Olympic silver medalist
* [[Carey McWilliams (journalist)|Carey McWilliams]] (1905–1980), author, editor, lawyer
* [[Robin Olds]] (1922–2007), ace fighter pilot and WWII/Vietnam fighter group commander
* [[Trey Parker]] (born 1969), actor, animator, writer, producer, director, and composer.
* [[Tyler Johnson (musician)|Tyler Johnson]] (born 1986), Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer. Grew up in Steamboat Springs.
* [[Ryan Max Riley]] (born 1979), freestyle skier and humorist
* [[Reese Roper]] (born 1973), singer and songwriter; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[Ryan Serhant]] (born 1984), celebrity real estate broker and television personality
* [[Andrew Sisco]] (born 1983), baseball player; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[Johnny Spillane]] (born 1980), Nordic combined skier; born in Steamboat Springs
* [[Steven R. Swanson|Steven Ray Swanson]] (born 1960), engineer and a NASA astronaut
* [[Alvin P. Wegeman]] (1927–2015), Nordic combined skier
* [[Buddy Werner]] (1936–1964), Olympic alpine skier born and raised in Steamboat Springs
* [[Gordon Wren]] (1919–1999), ski jumper; last lived and died in Steamboat Springs

==Transportation==
*[[Bustang]]
*[[Colorado State Highway 131]]
*[[Steamboat Springs Airport]]
*[[U.S. Route 40 in Colorado]]
*[[Yampa Valley Airport]]

==Sister cities==
{{SisterCities|Steamboat Springs|two}}
* {{flagdeco|Switzerland}} [[Saas-Fee]], [[Valais]], Switzerland
* {{flagdeco|Argentina}} [[San Martín de los Andes]], [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], Argentina

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Fish Creek Falls]]
*[[Yampa River Botanic Park]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Steamboat Springs}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://www.steamboatchamber.com/ Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.treadofpioneers.org/ Tread of Pioneers Museum]

{{Routt County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|state=collapsed}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Steamboat Springs, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Routt County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Hot springs of Colorado]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Routt County, Colorado]]

Silverton, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:38:46Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Town in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Silverton, Colorado
| settlement_type = Town
| motto =
| image_skyline = Silverton.jpg
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_map = File:San Juan County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Silverton Highlighted 0870580.svg
| mapsize = 250x200px
| map_caption = Location of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado.
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado|name=State of Colorado}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web |url=http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Local Affairs |access-date=September 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212060308/http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 }}</ref>
| subdivision_name2 = [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]] - [[County seat|seat]]<ref name=CountySeatsCO>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html |title=Colorado County Seats |publisher=[[State of Colorado]], Department of Public Health and Environment |access-date=December 31, 2007 }}</ref>
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|Statutory Town]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Dayna Kranker
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date = September 15, 1874
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = November 15, 1885<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web |url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030823045734/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 23, 2003 |title=Colorado Municipal Incorporations |publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives |date=December 1, 2004 |access-date=September 2, 2007 }}</ref>
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web |title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 2.16
| area_land_km2 = 2.16
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.83
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.83
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Silverton_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0870580 |title=Silverton town, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 5, 2023 |quote= }}</ref>
| population_note =
| population_total = 622
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset = -7
| timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -6
| coordinates = {{coord|37|48|42|N|107|39|52|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 9302
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=January 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122200027/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 22, 2010 }}</ref>
| postal_code = 81433 ([[PO Box]])
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 08-70580
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2413289<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413289 }}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://townofsilverton.colorado.gov/}}
}}

'''Silverton''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]] that is the [[county seat]] of, the most populous community in, and the only [[List of municipalities in Colorado|incorporated municipality]] in [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]], Colorado, United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties }}</ref> The town is located in a remote part of the western [[San Juan Mountains]], a range of the [[Rocky Mountains]]. The first mining claims were made in mountains above the Silverton in 1860, near the end of the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush|Colorado Gold Rush]] and when the land was still controlled by the [[Ute people|Utes]].<ref name=":2" /> Silverton was established shortly after the Utes ceded the region in the [[Brunot Agreement|1873 Brunot Agreement]], and the town [[Boomtown|boomed]] from silver mining until the [[Panic of 1893]] led to a collapse of the silver market, and boomed again from gold mining until the recession caused by the [[Panic of 1907]].<ref name=":0" /> The entire town is included as a federally designated [[National Historic Landmark District]], the '''Silverton Historic District'''.

Originally called "Bakers Park", Silverton sits in a flat area of the [[Animas River]] valley and is surrounded by steep peaks. Most of the peaks surrounding Silverton are [[thirteener]]s. The highest being [[Storm Peak (Colorado)|Storm Peak]], at 13,487 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=14ers.com • 13er Storm Peak A |url=https://www.14ers.com/13ers/peak.php?peakkey=2770 |access-date=May 19, 2021 |website=www.14ers.com }}</ref> The town is less than 15 miles from 7 of Colorado's 53 [[List of Colorado fourteeners|fourteeners]], and is known as one of the premier gateways into the Colorado backcountry.

Silverton's last operating mine closed in 1992, and the community now depends primarily on tourism and government remediation and preservation projects. Silverton is well known because of the [[Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad]], a former mine train that is now a National Historic Landmark, and internationally recognized events such as the [[Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run]]. The town population was 622 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020" />

== History ==
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Silverton Historic District
| nrhp_type = nhld
| nocat = yes
| image = SilvertonHotel.jpg
| caption = Grand Imperial Hotel, Silverton Historic District in 1971
| location = Silverton, Colorado
| locmapin = Colorado#USA
| area = {{cvt|695|acre|ha}}
| built = 1882
| architect =
| architecture = Late Victorian
| designated_nrhp_type = July 4, 1961<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=156&ResourceType=District |title=Silverton Historic District |access-date=October 13, 2007 |work=National Historic Landmark summary listing |publisher=National Park Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104184848/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=156&ResourceType=District |archive-date=January 4, 2008 }}</ref>
| added = October 15, 1966
| increase = April 3, 1997
| refnum = 66000255
| increase_refnum = 97000247<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a }}</ref>
}}

=== Mining era ===
[[File:Abandoned Mine at Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|An abandoned mine in Silverton]]
[[File:Abandoned mine in the San Juan Mountains, just above Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|An abandoned mine just above Silverton]]
[[File:Remains of an Abandoned Mine's Ore Chute near Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|Remains of an abandoned mine's ore bin along the Million Dollar Highway between Durango & Silverton]]

Settlements in the area surrounding present-day Silverton began in 1860 after a group of prospectors led by Charles Baker made their way into the [[San Juan Mountains]] searching for gold. The area was soon referred to as "Baker's Park", and the group found traces of placer gold nearby.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Twitty |first=Eric |date=March 1992 |title=Historic Mining Resources of San Juan County, Colorado |url=https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2017/655.pdf |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=National Register of Historic Places}}.</ref>

Long before settlement, the area was regularly explored by the [[Ancestral Puebloans|Anasazi]], and later the [[Ute people|Utes]], who hunted and lived in the San Juans during the summer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Duane A. |title=A brief history of Silverton |date=2004 |publisher=Western Reflections Pub |isbn=1-890437-95-6 |edition=2nd |location=Montrose, Colo. |pages=102 |oclc=56351338 }}</ref> There is also speculation that Spanish explorers and fur traders ventured into the area before Baker's 1860 expedition.<ref name=":1" />

After the Brunot Agreement with the Utes in 1873, which exchanged {{convert|4|e6acre|sqmi km2|abbr=unit|spell=in}} for the [[Southern Ute Indian Reservation]] and $25,000 per year, several mining camps were constructed.<ref name="Voynick">Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555 }}</ref> These would later become the communities of [[Howardsville, Colorado|Howardsville]], [[Eureka, Colorado|Eureka]], and Silverton.

Silverton was founded by mining entrepreneurs William Kearnes, Dempsey Reese, and Thomas Blair in 1874.<ref name=":0" /> The region boomed after George Howard and R. J. McNutt discovered the Sunnyside silver vein along Hurricane Peak. Gold was then discovered in 1882, which helped the region weather the [[Panic of 1893]] far better than other mining communities, such as Aspen or [[Creede, Colorado|Creede]].<ref name="GR2" /><ref name=":0" /> The '''Sunnyside Mine''' would become one of Colorado's longest running and most productive mines.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bunyak |first=Dawn |date=1997 |title=Silverton Historic District (boundary increase). |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/e0fb36cb-f366-4243-b472-95ef79a73ec1 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=National Register of Historic Places }}</ref> The mine was shut down after the [[1929 stock market crash]], but was acquired by Standard Metals Corp. in 1959, and reopened, finding gold in 1973 with the Little Mary vein. The region's economy was dealt a devastating blow in 1992 when the mine and the corresponding Shenandoah-Dives mill, the last operating in the region, permanently closed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Russek |first=Melanie |date=n.d. |title=Resiliency Plan for Silverton & San Juan County, Colorado |url=https://www.nado.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SJC-Resilency-Plan-2020-Final-002.pdf |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=National Association of Development Organizations. }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The closure meant the end of jobs for over one third of Silverton's workforce.<ref name=":3" />

=== Tourism era ===
The town has a long history of tourism and efforts to market tourism by the Silverton Commercial Club (now the Chamber of Commerce) dates back as early as 1913.<ref name=":1" /> By the 1930s, interest in the “Old West” was already attracting tourists from around the world, for which the newly constructed U.S. Route 550 further enabled access.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiser-Alexander |first=Kathy |date=2021 |title=Silverton, Colorado – High in the San Juans |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/silverton-colorado/3/ |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=Legends of America }}</ref> Tourism continued to increase in the latter part of the 20th century, but Silverton's harsh winters and isolation made it a summer-only attraction.<ref name=":1" /> Following the closure of Sunnyside, Silverton lost much of its tax base as the town's population dwindled to just over 500, a quarter of its peak population one hundred years earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1910 Census Supplement For Colorado (p. 583). |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-co.pdf |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=U.S. Census Bureau }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=Colorado: 2000, Population and Housing Unit Counts (Report No. PHC-3-7) (p. 11) |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-7.pdf |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=US Census Bureau }}</ref><ref name=":2" />

[[File:An Invitation from San Juan County Silverton Colorado.jpg|thumb|left|1911 Brochure inviting tourists to Silverton]]

The town's scenic {{cvt|3|ft}} [[narrow-gauge]] railroad, originally built by the [[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] (later renamed the Denver and Rio Grande Western or D&RGW) primarily to haul ore to Durango, became popular as a tourist attraction, and this traffic increased after World War II when the line was featured in several popular [[western film]]s and its staff began actively promoting tourism. As mining and other rail freight declined, the D&RGW petitioned the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] in 1960 to abandon the line, but the petition was denied due to the strong tourist traffic.<ref name=":4"/> In December 1968, the D&RGW discontinued service on its [[Alamosa–Durango line]] west of [[Antonito, Colorado]], and formally abandoned the line in 1969, severing Silverton's only remaining connection to the national rail network.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Weiser-Alexander |first=Kathey |date=2018 |title=Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/durango-silverton-railroad/ |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=Legends of America }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drgw.net/info/SanJuanExtension |title=The San Juan Extension |website=drgw.net |access-date=December 22, 2024 }}</ref> The Silverton–Durango line now served tourists exclusively, and in 1980, the D&RGW sold it to an independent operator who renamed it the [[Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad]] (D&SNG). Operations continue today, bringing several trainloads of tourists to Silverton daily during operating season, and the D&SNG also operates a museum in the town.<ref name=":4"/>

The town's population, buoyed by strong summer tourism and an emerging winter economy, has since recovered.<ref name="GR2" /> The construction of the expert-level ski area [[Silverton Mountain]] in 2002 marked the beginning of Silverton's year-round tourism. Another ski area, the [[Purgatory Resort]], is marketed as being within the Durango Metropolitan Area but is actually closer to Silverton than it is to Durango. Winter festivals such as [[Skijoring]] have brought crowds that rival those in the summer,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Faith |date=February 2020 |title=Silverton skijoring: The most extreme sporting event of the winter. |url=https://www.360durango.com/blog/Durango-Events/Silverton-Skijoring-the-Most-Extreme-Sporting-Event-of-the-Winte.html |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=360Durango.Com }}</ref> and the potential for new winter activities such as the expansion of the town-operated ski hill could permanently improve Silverton's winter tourism. The town has also become well known for its winter backcountry activities such as snowmobiling, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing.

Both the town and the rail line were designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1961. In 1966, the entire town was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. These boundaries were expanded in 1997 with the addition of the Shenandoah-Dives mill and other historical structures.<ref name=":2" /> The town's only grocery store is the Silverton Grocery & Deli, formerly called the Greene Street Grocery.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDCDDx_v3Ok Short 2024 documentary made by [[Rocky Mountain PBS]]</ref>

=== Notable disasters ===
The area surrounding Silverton has been the scene of several well-documented disasters, many of them due to avalanches and mining accidents.

==== 1906 avalanches ====
Five miners perished in a slide at the Sunnyside mine in January 1906. Only a few months later, twelve miners were killed in another slide at the Shenandoah Mine, making it one of the most deadly slides in the history of Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shenandoah Mine Avalanche |url=https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/shenandoah_news_only.htm |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=usminedisasters.miningquiz.com |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bohlen |first=Teague |date=January 13, 2017 |title=The Ten Worst Avalanches in Colorado History |url=https://www.westword.com/news/the-ten-worst-avalanches-in-colorado-history-8687198 |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Westword }}</ref>

==== 1918 influenza pandemic ====
The [[Spanish flu|Spanish Flu]] arrived in Silverton near the end of October 1918, and quickly devastated the community. In a single week, 125 people, more than 5% of the town's population, perished from flu complications.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2020 |title=The "Spanish" Flu of 1918 |url=https://www.silvertonstandard.com/news/spanish-flu-1918 |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Silverton Standard |language=en }}</ref> By the time the pandemic waned the following March, 246 people had died, accounting to more than 10% of the population.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=In 1918, flu pandemic ravaged Southwest Colorado |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/in-1918-flu-pandemic-ravaged-southwest-colorado/ |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Durango Herald |language=en-US }}</ref> This gave Silverton the dubious honor of having the highest mortality rate for the Spanish Flu in the entire nation.<ref name=":5" />

==== Lake Emma disaster ====
On June 4, 1978, when the water from Lake Emma collapsed into Sunnyside mine, shooting out of a portal with a force that toppled a 20-ton locomotive.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Animas River: EPA's Colorado mine disaster plume flows west toward Grand Canyon |url=http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_28608746/epas-colorado-mine-disaster-plume-flows-west-toward }}</ref> Fortunately, no injuries were reported as disaster occurred on a Sunday when nobody was present in the mine.<ref name=":6" />

==== Gold King Mine disaster ====
In 2015, the EPA and its contractors [[2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill|caused an environmental catastrophe]] when they accidentally destroyed the plug holding water trapped inside the Gold King Mine, which caused three million US gallons (eleven thousand cubic meters) of [[Acid mine drainage|mine waste water]] and [[tailings]], to flow into a tributary of the [[Animas River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1360
|1910= 2153
|1920= 1150
|1930= 1301
|1940= 1127
|1950= 1375
|1960= 822
|1970= 797
|1980= 794
|1990= 716
|2000= 531
|2010= 637
|2020= 622
}}

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 531 people, 255 households, and 149 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|656.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|531.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.75% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.38% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.75% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.75% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.72% of the population.

There were 255 households, out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.63.

20.7% of town residents were under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 39.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,486, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $30,588 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,839. About 14.0% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

The local school system has a total of 53 K-through-12 students as of November 2006.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land. Silverton is one of the highest towns in the United States, at {{convert|9,318|ft|m}} above sea level. The town is located in [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]], the highest county in the United States, with a mean elevation of {{convert|11,240|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Silverton sits in a flat area of the [[Animas River]] valley and is surrounded by several [[thirteener]]s, the highest being Storm Peak, at 13,487 feet. The town is less than 15 miles from seven of Colorado's 53 "[[List of Colorado fourteeners|fourteeners]]", ''i.e.'', mountain peaks with a summit elevation of at least {{convert|14,000|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}.

==Climate==
Silverton has an alpine [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfc'') with very cold, snowy winters and cool to warm summers with adequate precipitation year-round.
{{Weather box
|location = Silverton, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, 1904-2020 extremes: {{cvt|9285|ft|m}}
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 61
|Mar record high F = 68
|Apr record high F = 72
|May record high F = 82
|Jun record high F = 96
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 92
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 78
|Nov record high F = 68
|Dec record high F = 65
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 48.3
|Feb avg record high F = 50.3
|Mar avg record high F = 55.9
|Apr avg record high F = 62.4
|May avg record high F = 70.9
|Jun avg record high F = 79.2
|Jul avg record high F = 82.1
|Aug avg record high F = 79.2
|Sep avg record high F = 75.3
|Oct avg record high F = 68.4
|Nov avg record high F = 58.7
|Dec avg record high F = 47.3
|year avg record high F = 82.6

|Jan high F = 34.4
|Feb high F = 36.3
|Mar high F = 42.7
|Apr high F = 48.2
|May high F = 58.4
|Jun high F = 70.0
|Jul high F = 74.7
|Aug high F = 71.9
|Sep high F = 65.6
|Oct high F = 55.0
|Nov high F = 43.0
|Dec high F = 33.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 14.3
|Feb mean F = 16.7
|Mar mean F = 24.4
|Apr mean F = 32.6
|May mean F = 41.9
|Jun mean F = 50.5
|Jul mean F = 56.5
|Aug mean F = 54.4
|Sep mean F = 47.7
|Oct mean F = 37.6
|Nov mean F = 25.0
|Dec mean F = 14.4
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = -5.9
|Feb low F = -2.8
|Mar low F = 6.1
|Apr low F = 17.0
|May low F = 25.4
|Jun low F = 31.0
|Jul low F = 38.3
|Aug low F = 37.0
|Sep low F = 29.7
|Oct low F = 20.1
|Nov low F = 7.0
|Dec low F = -4.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -21.1
|Feb avg record low F = -18.4
|Mar avg record low F = -11.3
|Apr avg record low F = 3.9
|May avg record low F = 16.7
|Jun avg record low F = 26.3
|Jul avg record low F = 32.3
|Aug avg record low F = 31.7
|Sep avg record low F = 22.3
|Oct avg record low F = 9.5
|Nov avg record low F = -11.0
|Dec avg record low F = -19.3
|year avg record low F = -23.8

|Jan record low F = −38
|Feb record low F = −39
|Mar record low F = −25
|Apr record low F = -18
|May record low F = 0
|Jun record low F = 14
|Jul record low F = 20
|Aug record low F = 13
|Sep record low F = 5
|Oct record low F = -12
|Nov record low F = -24
|Dec record low F = −35
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.04
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.10
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.05
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.74
|May precipitation inch = 1.68
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.93
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.38
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.83
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.75
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.13
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.66
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.63
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 30.80
|Feb snow inch = 28.50
|Mar snow inch = 29.40
|Apr snow inch = 18.20
|May snow inch = 8.20
|Jun snow inch = 0.40
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.50
|Oct snow inch = 7.70
|Nov snow inch = 21.50
|Dec snow inch = 27.40
|year snow inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00057656&format=pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Silverton, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals |access-date=August 12, 2023}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS>
{{cite web |url=https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=xmACIS |access-date=December 9, 2023}}
</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = 1906-2005 Silverton, Colorado.
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Yes
|width=auto
|Jan high F = 34.0
|Feb high F = 36.6
|Mar high F = 40.6
|Apr high F = 47.3
|May high F = 57.6
|Jun high F = 67.9
|Jul high F = 73.1
|Aug high F = 70.5
|Sep high F = 64.7
|Oct high F = 55.1
|Nov high F = 43.2
|Dec high F = 35.1
|year high F = 52.2
|Jan low F = -1.9
|Feb low F = 1.0
|Mar low F = 8.1
|Apr low F = 18.5
|May low F = 26.4
|Jun low F = 31.9
|Jul low F = 37.9
|Aug low F = 37.2
|Sep low F = 30.3
|Oct low F = 22.0
|Nov low F = 9.5
|Dec low F = 0.2
|year low F = 18.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.68
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.75
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.30
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.72
|May precipitation inch = 1.46
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.39
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.72
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.10
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.81
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.34
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.49
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.73
|year precipitation inch = 24.50
|Jan snow inch = 25.8
|Feb snow inch = 25.3
|Mar snow inch = 28.4
|Apr snow inch = 17.3
|May snow inch = 4.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.9
|Oct snow inch = 8.5
|Nov snow inch = 20.0
|Dec snow inch = 24.0
|year snow inch = 154.9

|source 1 = The Western Regional Climate Center<ref name="WRCC">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?cosilv |title=Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information |access-date=March 29, 2013 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref>|date=March 2013}}

==Notable people==
* [[Bill Alsup]], former IndyCar driver
* [[Robert Baer]], author and former case officer at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] briefly retired here.<ref>[http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/ex-spy-feels-at-home-in-mountain-town/article_4ca1c677-af8c-5c7a-8ee3-ac4a215061dd.html Ex-spy feels at home in mountain town {{!}} Wyoming News {{!}} trib.com] Retrieved November 14, 2016.</ref>
* [[Anton Larson]], Trooper in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, Spanish–American War
* [[Arthur Pink]], evangelical pastor and writer, lived in Silverton briefly
* [[Harold Ross]], founding editor of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' who was a native of [[Aspen, Colorado|Aspen]], Colorado

==In popular culture==
In the novel ''[[The Christopher Killer]]'' by [[Alane Ferguson]], the main setting is in Silverton.

Country singer [[C. W. McCall]] recorded "The Silverton," about the Silverton and Durango Railroad, on his 1975 album ''[[Black Bear Road]]''.

''[[Night Passage (film)|Night Passage]]'' (1957) was filmed in Silverton and [[Durango, Colorado]].<ref>Rowan, Terry (2013). ''The American Western A Complete Film Guide''. Lulu Press, Inc. Page 286. {{ISBN|9781300418580}}.</ref>

[[Shaun White]]'s secret training facility for the Vancouver Olympics (2010) called "Project X" was located on Silverton Mountain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.silvertonstandard.com/news.php?id=126 |title=Olympic gold shines on Silverton " " Local News |website=www.silvertonstandard.com |access-date=September 24, 2018 }}</ref>

The board game Silverton by [[Mayfair Games]] is named after this location.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/511/silverton |title=Silverton board game at Boardgamegeek.com |access-date=November 9, 2018 }}</ref>

For several years in the 1970s and 1980s, Silverton was the site for the International Speed-Skiing Championship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=April 21, 1982 |title=SPEED SKIERS DEFYING GRAVITY |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/21/sports/speed-skiers-defying-gravity.html |access-date=May 24, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref>

==List of historic structures==
{| class="wikitable"

|Header1="col" width="225" | Name
|Header2="col" width="35" |Year Built
|Header4="col" width="225"|Comments
|-
|Teller House, 1250 Greene Street<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tellerhouse.com/ |title=Home |website=tellerhouse.com }}</ref>
[[File:Teller-House.jpg|thumb|]]
|1896
|Brewery owner Charles Fischer built the Teller House as a hotel
|-
|Alma House, 220 East 10th Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.innoftherockies.com/the-inn |title=The Inn }}</ref>
[[File:Alma-House.jpg|thumb|]]
|1898
|Bridget Hughes opened the Alma House in 1902 as a boarding house for miners
|-
|Silverton Train Depot, corner of 10th and Cement Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.durangotrain.com/dsng-museum-silverton/ |title=D&SNG Museum in Silverton }}</ref>
[[File:Silverton-Train-Depot.jpg|thumb|]]
|1882
|Now the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Museum
|-
|Lode Theater, 1309 Greene Street<ref name="SAL" >{{cite book |last1=Corr |first1=Jeff |title=Images of America: Silverton and the Alpine Loop |date=2014 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |location=Charleston, South Carolina |isbn=978-1-4671-3155-1 |pages=127 }}</ref>
[[File:Lode-Theater2.jpg|thumb|]]
|1909
|Originally constructed as a saloon; in 1916 converted to the Star Theatre; in 1925 became the Gem Theatre, and in 1938 became the Lode Theatre
|-
|Bausman's Merchandise, 1303 Greene Street<ref name="SAL" />
[[File:Bausman's-Merchandise Building.jpg|thumb|]]
|1895
|-
|San Juan County Jail, 1557 Greene Street<ref name="SAL" />
[[File:County Jail, Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|]]
|1902
|When the jail was completed it was the third jail in Silverton. It was never used extensively; by the 1930s it was a homeless shelter. It sat vacant for 25 years and then converted into a museum.
|-
|First Congregational Church, 1070 Reese Street<ref name="SAL" />
[[File:Silverton-Congregational-Church.jpg|thumb|]]
|1880
|The steeple was added in 1892
|-
|San Juan County Water and Power Company substation/ Animas Power & Water Company<ref name="SAL" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/silverton-power-station.html |title=Silverton Power Station }}</ref>
[[File:San Juan County Water and Power Company.jpg|thumb|]]
|1906
|Using hydroelectric power from Rockwood, Colorado, electricity was piped to this substation, where transformers distributed power to surrounding mines
|-
|Hillside Cemetery<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/hillside-cemetery.html |title=Hillside Cemetery ~ Silverton, Colorado }}</ref>
[[File:Hillside Cemetery Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|]]
|1875
|A 20-acre site on the north side of Silverton, the first recorded burial is of Rachel Farrow, a young girl who died of pneumonia; James Briggs who died in 1878 from a snow slide is the first marked grave. Of 3300 documented burials, 2000 have no identifiable markers—wooden markers have deteriorated and disappeared.
|-
|Ye Old Livery, 1120 Greene Street<ref name="SAL" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/silverton-colorado/3/#:~:text=Ye%20Old%20Livery%20was%20once,Hotel%20opened%20t%20in%201882. |title=Silverton, Colorado – High in the San Juans – Legends of America }}</ref>
[[File:Old Livery.jpg|thumb|]]
|1897
|Built as a [[Livery yard|livery]] (stable for horses and mules). It had the first elevator in Silverton, and horses were lifted to the second floor while wagons were serviced on the first
|-
|County Club Saloon/Benson Block, 1208 Greene Street<ref name="SAL" /><ref name="SWT" >{{cite web |title=Silverton Walking Tour |url=http://www.aztecnm.com/fourcorners/colorado/silverton/walkingtour/WalkingTour.pdf }}</ref>
[[File:Country Club.jpg|thumb|]]
|1901
|The corner of the building served as the County Club; since 1902 the building has served as a hotel, saloon, and one of the town's first garages.
|-
|Imperial Hotel/Grand Imperial<ref name="SAL" /><ref name="SWT" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-SA11 |title=Grand Imperial Hotel |date=July 16, 2018 }}</ref>
[[File:Imperial Hotel, Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|]]
|1882
|Originally a house with private and government offices upstairs. In 1883 the third floor was converted to hotel rooms. Englishman Charles S. Thomson built this grand hotel, a two-story Italianate building with a [[Mansard roof|mansard]] third story and prominent battery of gabled dormers. Wrought iron columns separate first-floor plate glass storefronts. Above a first story of square-cut, irregularly coursed [[ashlar]] are a second story faced in brick with rhythmical rows of arched windows and a third story with rounded dormers set in diamond-patterned sheet metal. The county courthouse occupied the second floor for several years before the present courthouse was completed. In 1950 Winfield Morton of Dallas, Texas, bought the hotel for $60,000 and spent $369,000 to convert its fifty-six rooms and three bathrooms into forty-two rooms with baths. Resplendent with Victorian fixtures, it is now a forty-room hotel with first-floor lobby, shops, dining rooms, and a splendid saloon whose cherry back bar has diamond dust mirrors set in three ornate arches originating from [[Corinthian capitals]].
|-
|San Juan County Miners Union Hospital, 1315 Snowden Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.historycolorado.org/location/san-juan-county-hospital-miners-union-hospital |title=San Juan County Hospital-Miner's Union Hospital | History Colorado }}</ref>
[[File:Miners-Hospital.jpg|thumb|]]
|1902
|Architect F.E. Edbrooke—whose works include the Colorado State Capitol building—designed the building in the Renaissance style
|-
|Public School, 1160 Snowden Street<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silvertonschool.org/contact-us.html |title=contact us - SILVERTON SCHOOL |website=www.silvertonschool.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115082139/http://www.silvertonschool.org/contact-us.html |archive-date=January 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="SAL" /><ref name="SWT" />
[[File:Public School, Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|]]
|1911
|This building replaced the original wooden structure, which was a fire hazard. It still functions as the school for Silverton, K-12.
|-
|St. Patrick's Church, 1005 Reese Street<ref name="SAL" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-SA15 |title=St. Patrick's Catholic Church |date=July 16, 2018 }}</ref>
[[File:St.-Patrick's-Church.jpg|thumb|]]
|1905
|This building replaced a frame church (1884) erected a block farther up 10th Street. Italian and Tyrolean miners donated much of the masonry work and helped construct the rectory (1906) next door. The large, square, open bell tower with a ball finial and Celtic cross and the corner minarets are unique features of this otherwise standard [[Romanesque Revival]] church with its round-arched openings, rose windows, buttresses, and rough stone foundation.
|-
|Carnegie Library, 1117 Reese Street, 1371 Greene Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.historycolorado.org/location/carnegie-library-silverton |title=Carnegie Library (Silverton) | History Colorado }}</ref><ref name="SWT" />
[[File:Carnegie-Library2.jpg|thumb|]]
|1905
|Between 1883 and 1929 [[Andrew Carnegie]], an American industrialist and philanthropist, founded 2,509 [[Carnegie library|Carnegie Libraries]] world-wide, and 1,689 in the United States alone, representing almost one-half the total number of libraries in the United States. Most were constructed in varying architectural styles, including Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, Baroque, Classical Revival, and Spanish Colonial.
|-
|Silverton City Hall, 1360 Greene Street<ref name="SWT" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/historic-preservation.html |title=SJCHS Historic Preservation Accomplishments }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-SA05 |title=Town Hall |date=July 16, 2018 }}</ref>
[[File:Silverton-City-Hall2.jpg|thumb|]]
|1908
|In 1908 the bell tower collapsed while under construction. Built of Silverton's distinctive local rosy-purple sandstone, it was restored in the 1970s, then re-restored after the Thanksgiving weekend fire in 1992 caused by a heating system that kept snow off the roof. During this fire the bell tower collapsed; reconstruction took three years. The dome caps the open bell tower of this two-story building with a second-story balcony under a [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] pediment supported by paired [[Ionic order|Ionic]] columns.
|-
|Wyman Building, 1371 Greene Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thewyman.com/about |title=About - the Wyman Hotel - Silverton Colorado }}</ref><ref name="SAL" /><ref name="SWT" />
[[File:Wyman-Hotel.jpg|thumb|]]
|1902
|Built by Louis Wyman who in part gained his fortune by gaining contracts to haul ore from the North Star Mine. On the top corner of the building you can see the image of a burro that he had chiseled into the stone to commemorate the animal that helped make his fortune.
|-
|Church on the Hill, 1101 Snowden Street<ref name="SWT" />
[[File:Church-on-the-Hill.jpg|thumb|]]
|1898
|Originally built as St. John's Episcopal church, it was leased to schools for overflow classrooms until 1901. The [[Belfry (architecture)|belfry]] came from an old school house in the ghost town of Eureka, Colorado.
|-
|San Juan County Courthouse, 1557 Greene Street<ref name="SWT" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-SA07 |title=San Juan County Courthouse |date=July 16, 2018 }}</ref>
[[File:San Juan County Courthouse, Silverton, Colorado.jpg|thumb|]]
|1907
|The dome sits atop this [[Georgian Revival]] monument. On the courthouse lawn is a monument imbedded with ore specimens from fifty-one local mines. Native gray sandstone was used for the foundation as well as the trim of this two-story structure of pressed gray brick, capped by a square tower with an elongated, open bell cupola. Paired [[Doric order|Doric]] columns of cast stone support the entry porticos. The interior is pristine, with the original hexagonal tile mosaic floors, oak wood-work, high ceilings, signage, fixtures, and maps showing mining claims and the original town plat.
|-
|Old Arcade Trading Company, 1202 Blair Street<ref name="SWT" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.silvertoncolorado.com/index.php?biz=yes&bizstatus=viewone&biz_id=322&subcat_id=&cat_id=12 |title=Silverton, Colorado Chamber of Commerce }}</ref>
[[File:Old-Arcade.jpg|thumb|]]
|1929
|The last bordello to be constructed on Blair Street, it sold bootleg whiskey and employed prostitutes. It has served as a pool hall, saloon, and gambling house; it is still colored orange as it was in 1929.
|-
|Silverton Meat and Produce/Brown Bear Cafe, 1129 Greene Street<ref name="SWT" />
[[File:Silverton-Meat-and-Produce.jpg|thumb|]]
|1893
|Was originally a butcher shop; lodging was provided upstairs. In 1933 it became the San Juan Bar. Most recently it became the Brown Bear Cafe, which has been closed.
|-
|Posey and Wingate Building, 1269 Greene Street<ref name="SWT" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/silverton-colorado/3/ |title=Silverton, Colorado – High in the San Juans – Legends of America }}</ref>
[[File:Posey-and-Wingate-Building.jpg|thumb|]]
|1880
|This is the oldest commercial building in western Colorado and has been a hardware store, a bank, and a pool and billiards hall. It housed the First National Bank Silverton from 1883 to 1934.
|-
|General Store, 1304 Greene Street<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-SA04 |title=Pickle Barrel (Sherwin and Houghton Store) |date=July 16, 2018 }}</ref>
[[File:General-Store2.jpg|thumb|]]
|1880
|Built of local gray granite for the walls and a stone false front with a tiny wooden bracketed cornice. Rough-cut granite blocks form the uncoursed walls, inside and out, of this one-story building with its original triple-arch plate glass storefront, hardwood floors, and 12-foot-high ceilings. It operated as a general store until 1900 when it was converted into a saloon; after prohibition it operated as a soda fountain and confectionary store.
|-
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
* [[Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad]]
* [[Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run]]
* [[Million Dollar Highway]]
* [[Old Hundred Gold Mine]]
* [[San Juan Mountains]]
* [[San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway]]
* [[Shenandoah-Dives (Mayflower) Mill]]
* [[Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Silverton, Colorado}}
{{Wikivoyage|Silverton (Colorado)}}
* [http://www.silvertoncolorado.com/ Silverton Chamber of Commerce Website]
* {{Official website|https://townofsilverton.colorado.gov/}}
* [http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/silverton/ Silverton history and photos] at Western Mining History
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?pp/hh:@field(SUBJ+@od1(COLORADO--San+Juan+County--Silverton)) Silverton Historic District photos and documentation] from [[Historic American Buildings Survey]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214201/http://www.anseladams.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=137 Silverton, Colorado photograph] by [[Ansel Adams]] in 1951
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100911201336/http://nevada-railways.net/contact.html The Silverton Branch of the D&RGW]}}
* [http://www.silvertonstandard.com/ Silverton Standard Newspaper Website]

{{San Juan County, Colorado}}
{{Protected areas of Colorado}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in San Juan County, Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Colorado]]
[[Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Juan County, Colorado]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Colorado]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmark Districts]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]

San Luis, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:38:11Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{short description|Town in Colorado, United States}}
{{distinguish|San Luis Río Colorado}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

|name = San Luis, Colorado
|native_name = ''San Luis de la Culebra''
|nickname =
|settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory town|Statutory Town]]
|motto = The Oldest Town in Colorado


|image_skyline = San Luis, Colorado.JPG
|image_caption = Entering San Luis from the west
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_blank_emblem =
|blank_emblem_type =
|blank_emblem_size =
|image_map = Costilla County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas San Luis Highlighted 0868105.svg
|map_caption = Location of San Luis in Costilla County, Colorado.
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|image_dot_map =
|dot_mapsize =
|dot_map_caption =
|dot_x =
|dot_y =
|pushpin_map = Colorado#USA
|pushpin_label = San Luis
|pushpin_label_position = 
|pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_mapsize =


|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado|name=State of Colorado}}
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web | url = http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html | title = Active Colorado Municipalities | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Local Affairs | accessdate = September 1, 2007 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091212060308/http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html | archivedate = December 12, 2009 }}</ref>
|subdivision_name2 = [[Costilla County, Colorado|Costilla County]] – [[County seat|seat]]<ref name=CountySeatsCO>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html|title=Colorado County Seats|publisher=[[State of Colorado]], Department of Public Health and Environment|accessdate=December 31, 2007}}</ref>
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =


|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|Statutory Town]]<ref name=COMun/>
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 =
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|established_title = Established
|established_date = April 9, 1851
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1885
|established_title3 = 
|established_date3 =


|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 1.47
|area_land_km2 = 1.47
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.57
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.57
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00


|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes =<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/San_Luis_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0868105 |title=San Luis town, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 28, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
|population_total = 598
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto


|timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset = -7
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -6
|coordinates = {{coord|37|12|09|N|105|25|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes =<ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft = 7989


|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | title = ZIP Code Lookup | format = [[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]] | accessdate = January 1, 2008 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | archivedate = November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
|postal_code = 81152
|area_code = [[Area code 719|719]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 08-68105
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 2413253<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413253}}</ref>
|website = {{URL|townofsanluisco.org}}
}}

'''San Luis''' is a [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|statutory town]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the most populous town in [[Costilla County, Colorado|Costilla County]], Colorado, United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Formerly known as ''San Luis de la Culebra'', it is the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradocentralmagazine.com/lines-in-the-sand/|title=Lines in the sand|author-first=Mike|author-last=Rosso|work=Colorado Central Magazine|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> The population was 598 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020" />

==History==
[[File:La casa del senor Don Alberto Forbes, de San Luis, Colo. 1909.jpg|thumb|left|La casa del senor Don Alberto Forbes, San Luis, 1909]]
The Town of San Luis is centuries younger than the [[pueblo]]s and villages of northern [[New Mexico]] because [[Hispanic]] settlers were wary of venturing north of the [[37th parallel north]] for fear of [[Ute people|Ute]] and [[Comanche]] raids. Armed traders traveled the [[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]] through the area in the early 19th century. In 1821, the [[Treaty of Córdoba]] recognized the independence of Mexico from the [[Spanish Empire]]. San Luis was in the [[Sangre de Cristo Land Grant]] awarded by the government of New Mexico to the [[Carlos Beaubien]] family in 1843. The [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] annexed northern Mexico to the United States in 1848, and the [[Compromise of 1850]] created the U.S. [[New Mexico Territory|Territory of New Mexico]].

Hispanic settlers from the [[Taos Valley]] established several small villages along the [[Culebra Creek|Rio Culebra]] in the [[San Luis Valley]] and officially took possession of this portion of the [[Charles H. Beaubien#Sangre de Cristo Land Grant|Sangre de Cristo Land Grant]] on April 9, 1851.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/publications/pubs/614.pdf|title=The Culebra River Villages of Costilla County, Colorado|publisher=[[Colorado Historical Society]]|access-date=July 6, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121070625/http://coloradohistory-oahp.org/publications/pubs/614.pdf|url-status=dead}} - {{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/blm/co/17/chap5.htm|title=Land of Contrast: A History of Southeast Colorado|publisher=[[U.S. Bureau of Land Management]]}} - {{cite web|url=http://www.sangres.com/colorado/costilla/sanluis.htm|title=San Luis, Colorado|website=Sangres}} - {{cite web|url=http://www.costillacounty-co.gov/townofsanluis.html|title=Town of San Luis|publisher=[[Costilla County, Colorado]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625001820/http://www.costillacounty-co.gov/townofsanluis.html|archivedate=June 25, 2010}} - {{cite web|url=http://www.sangres.com/colorado/costilla/sanluis.htm|title=San Luis de la Culebra|website=Sangres}}.</ref> The settlers built a church in the central village of ''La Plaza Medio.'' They dedicated it on the [[Louis IX of France|Feast of Saint Louis]], June 21, 1851, renaming the village ''San Luis de la Culebra'' in honor of the saint.

The [[United States Army]] established [[Fort Massachusetts (Colorado)|Fort Massachusetts]] in 1852 and [[Fort Garland]] in 1858 to provide protection for the settlers in the valley. The village of San Luis remained part of the [[Territory of New Mexico]] until 1861 when the [[Territory of Colorado]] was established. San Luis became the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Costilla County, Colorado|Costilla County]] in 1863, and remains so to this day. [[Kit Carson|Colonel Christopher "Kit" Carson]], Commander of Fort Garland, negotiated a treaty with the [[Ute people]] in 1867. Colorado became a state in 1876 and the Town of San Luis was incorporated in 1885. Today, San Luis is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the State of Colorado.<ref name="History Colorado" >{{cite web |title=Where is the Oldest Town in Colorado? |url=https://www.historycolorado.org/story/do-you-know-place/2019/10/15/where-oldest-town-colorado |website=History Colorado|date=2019}}</ref>

A ''Pueblo Chieftain'' article dated June 8, 1872, describes the three stores of San Luis as kept by Fred Meyer & Co, [[Auguste Lacome]] and Mazers & Rich in addition to a blacksmith, butcher, beer saloon, carpenter and two hotels.

Today, the town is renowned for its [[Stations of the Cross]] ascending the 250-foot high local mesa. Visitors can ascend the hill using a half-mile trail and visit each of the stations, or drive to the top and park near a chapel located at the end of the trail.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ADN19890902-01.2.35 |title=San Luis Hopes Shrine Will Help Town |date=1989-09-02|access-date=2025-06-04}}</ref> The town celebrates the {{Lang|es|Fiesta de Santiago y Santa Ana}} each July and the San Luis Manito Christmas celebration in December.

==Geography==
The town of San Luis lies in the [[San Luis Valley]]. [[Colorado State Highway 159]] leads north {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Fort Garland, Colorado|Fort Garland]] and [[U.S. Route 160]], and south {{convert|18|mi}} to the [[New Mexico]] border. [[Colorado State Highway 142|Highway 142]] leads west {{convert|31|mi}} to [[Manassa, Colorado|Manassa]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.4|km2|disp=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0868105| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212181106/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0868105| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): San Luis town, Colorado| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=June 24, 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align= left
|1970= 781
|1980= 842
|1990= 800
|2000= 739
|2010= 629
|2020= 598
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
{{clear}}

==Notable people==
* [[Huberto Maestas]], sculptor<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=LVZ20181219-01.2.44 |title=San Luis artist; forged by fire|date=2018-12-19|access-date=2025-06-04}}</ref>
* Dario Gallegos, founder of [[R&R Market]] in 1857<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=VHN20070701-01.2.10|title=Colorado's 'oldest' business celebrates 150 years|date=2007-07-01|access-date=2025-06-04}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Old Spanish National Historic Trail]]
*[[Culebra Range]]
*[[Auguste Lacome]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://townofsanluisco.org/ Town of San Luis official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319105321/http://townofsanluisco.org/ |date=March 19, 2020 }}

{{Costilla County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|collapsed}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]
[[Category:Towns in Costilla County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in New Mexico Territory]]

Las Animas, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:34:13Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{distinguish|Las Animas County, Colorado}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

|name = Las Animas, Colorado
|settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>


|image_skyline = Las Animas, CO, City Hall IMG 5734.JPG
|image_caption = City Hall (2010)
|image_flag = Flag of Las Animas, Colorado.png
|image_seal =


|image_map = Bent County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Las Animas Highlighted 0843660.svg
|map_caption = Location within [[Bent County, Colorado|Bent County]] and [[Colorado]]
|image_map1 =
|map_caption1 =


|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates = {{coord|38|4|1|N|103|13|33|W|type:city_region:US-CO|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Bent County, Colorado|Bent]]


|established_title = Founded
|established_date =
|established_title1 = [[Platted]]
|established_date1 =
|established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2 = May 15, 1886<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
|named_for =


|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Jim Collins<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cityoflasanimasco.gov|title=Mayor and City Council - City of Las Animas|website=colorado.gov|access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref>


|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi = 1.67
|area_land_sq_mi = 1.63
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.05
|area_total_km2 = 4.33
|area_land_km2 = 4.21
|area_water_km2 = 0.12
|area_water_percent =
|unit_pref = Imperial


|elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft = 3898


|population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Las_Animas_city,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0843660 |title=Las Animas city; Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 28, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total = 2300
|pop_est_footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_est =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2 = auto


|timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset1 = −7
|timezone1_DST = MDT
|utc_offset1_DST = −6
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code = 81054<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code = [[Area code 719|719]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = {{FIPS|08|43660}} <ref name="GNIS"/>
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info = 195526 <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|195526|Las Animas, Colorado}}</ref>
|website = {{URL|https://cityoflasanimasco.gov|City website}}
}}

'''Las Animas''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|statutory city]] that is the [[county seat]] of, the most populous community in, and the only incorporated municipality in [[Bent County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> The city's population was 2,300 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name="Census 2020" /> Las Animas is located on the [[Arkansas River]], just west of its confluence with the [[Purgatoire River]] (or "Purgatory River"), in southeast Colorado east of [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]], near the historic [[Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site|Bent's Fort]].

==Etymology==
According to legend, the town and the Purgatoire River were named after a group of ''[[conquistador]]es'', probably part of [[Francisco Vásquez de Coronado|Coronado]]'s expedition, who died without the [[last rites]] sacrament of a priest. According to Catholic belief, their souls would go to [[Purgatory]] as a result. The original Spanish name for ''Las Ánimas'' ("The Souls", in Spanish) was purported to be{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} ''La Ciudad de Las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio,'' "The city of lost souls in Purgatory." According to author Morris F. Taylor, though, this is not consistent with Spanish Catholic belief, but a French Catholic belief.<ref>{{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Morris F. |title= [[Trinidad, Colorado Territory]] |publisher= [[O'Brien and Stationery Co.]] |location= [[Pueblo, Colorado]] |pages= 1–7 |year= 1966 }}</ref> The Spanish version, ''El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio,'' was considered an embellishment of the French version. No 19th-century map shows this full Spanish name or any translation of it. Existing maps have different names for the river: ''Río de Las Ánimas,'' Purgatory River, and "Picatoire", a corruption of ''Purgatoire'' (which today is anglicized as Picketwire). French fur traders of the 19th century referred to the river as the ''Purgatoire''. Another anglicization was the Pick of Ware.

==History==
===Early settlement===
Gantt's Picket Post, also known as Fort Gantt, was built near the present-day Las Animas in 1832, operating as a trading post until 1834.<ref name="Gallagher PT9">{{cite book|author=Jolie Anderson Gallagher|title=Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqJ2CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT9|date=April 2, 2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|isbn=978-1-61423-903-1|page=PT9}}</ref> The second [[Fort Lyon]] military post was built in Las Animas in 1867. It operated until 1897.<ref name="Gallagher PT11">{{cite book|author=Jolie Anderson Gallagher|title=Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqJ2CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT11|date=April 2, 2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|isbn=978-1-61423-903-1|page=PT11}}</ref>

===Water issues===
Water is a central issue in Las Animas. Like many cities in southeastern Colorado, Las Animas competes with wealthier cities on the [[Front Range]] for the water to sustain life and the local agricultural economy. Developers and municipalities have capitalized upon drought and low crop prices by buying water from desperate farmers. As this water is diverted upstream to serve the larger cities, Las Animas loses access to this important resource.

Because of the poor quality of the city's water supply, a [[reverse-osmosis]] filtration plant was installed in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110502071348/http://bentcounty.org/las-animas-about/ Article title]}}</ref> The loss of minerals in the water resulted in the collapse of many water mains, which had been supported by mineral deposits that formed on the insides of the pipes.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

==Geography==
Las Animas is located in northwest Bent County at {{Coord|38|4|1|N|103|13|33|W|type:city}} (38.066980, -103.225937),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along the [[Arkansas River]]. [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]] is the main highway through the city, leading west {{convert|82|mi}} to Pueblo and east {{convert|36|mi}} to [[Lamar, Colorado|Lamar]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.1|sqkm|order=flip|abbr=on}}, or 2.75%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0843660| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212174837/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0843660| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Las Animas city, Colorado| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref>

===Climate===
Las Animas is often one of the warmest cities in [[Colorado]], but winters can still be quite cold. The record low temperature in Las Animas of {{convert|-32|°F|°C|1}} occurred most recently on January 28, 1948. The record high temperature for Las Animas is {{convert|114|°F|°C|1}} and occurred most recently on June 24, 2012.<ref>[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/quickdata Retrieved 13 July 2015.]</ref> Each year there are roughly 83 afternoons that hit {{convert|90|°F|°C|1}} or hotter, with 22 reaching at least {{convert|100|°F|°C|1|disp=or}}. The record for lowest maximum temperature was on December 20, 1924, when the high was {{convert|-8|°F|°C|1}}. On the other end of the spectrum, Las Animas’ hottest minimum temperature occurred August 2, 1935, with a low of {{convert|89|°F|°C|1}}.

{{Weather box
|location = Las Animas 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1893-
|width = auto
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 84
| Feb record high F = 85
| Mar record high F = 94
| Apr record high F = 100
| May record high F = 106
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 110
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 99
| Nov record high F = 90
| Dec record high F = 88
| year record high F =
|Jan high F = 47.8
|Feb high F = 51.6
|Mar high F = 61.8
|Apr high F = 69.6
|May high F = 79.2
|Jun high F = 90.0
|Jul high F = 94.5
|Aug high F = 91.7
|Sep high F = 84.6
|Oct high F = 71.3
|Nov high F = 58.2
|Dec high F = 47.6
|year high F =

|Jan low F = 15.5
|Feb low F = 19.3
|Mar low F = 28.1
|Apr low F = 36.8
|May low F = 47.5
|Jun low F = 57.8
|Jul low F = 63.0
|Aug low F = 61.1
|Sep low F = 51.9
|Oct low F = 37.4
|Nov low F = 24.9
|Dec low F = 16.0
|year low F =
| Jan record low F = −32
| Feb record low F = −31
| Mar record low F = −26
| Apr record low F = 5
| May record low F = 17
| Jun record low F = 32
| Jul record low F = 32
| Aug record low F = 34
| Sep record low F = 22
| Oct record low F = -1
| Nov record low F = −14
| Dec record low F = −32
| year record low F=

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.38
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.32
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.78
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.36
| May precipitation inch = 1.69
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.81
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.63
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.82
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.93
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.10
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.40
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.36
| year precipitation inch =
| Jan snow inch = 3.9
| Feb snow inch = 2.3
| Mar snow inch = 3.3
| Apr snow inch = 0.4
| May snow inch = 0
| Jun snow inch = 0
| Jul snow inch = 0
| Aug snow inch = 0
| Sep snow inch = 0
| Oct snow inch = 1.5
| Nov snow inch = 1.9
| Dec snow inch = 2.9
| year snow inch =
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 2.7
| Feb precipitation days = 3.1
| Mar precipitation days = 4.5
| Apr precipitation days = 5.4
| May precipitation days = 6.9
| Jun precipitation days = 6.5
| Jul precipitation days = 7.3
| Aug precipitation days = 6.8
| Sep precipitation days = 4.3
| Oct precipitation days = 4.3
| Nov precipitation days = 2.8
| Dec precipitation days = 2.7
| year precipitation days =
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 1.8
| Feb snow days = 1.8
| Mar snow days = 1.2
| Apr snow days = 0.3
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0.4
| Nov snow days = 1.1
| Dec snow days = 1.9
| year snow days =
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pub
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = July 13, 2015
| archive-date = July 11, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150711032140/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pub
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|date=May 2021
|source 2 = NCEI <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00054834&format=pdf |title= Summary of monthly normals, 1991-2020, Station: Las Animas, CO US USC00054834 |author=National Centers for Environmental Information |date= April 29, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 52
|1890= 611
|1900= 1192
|1910= 2008
|1920= 2252
|1930= 2517
|1940= 3232
|1950= 3223
|1960= 3402
|1970= 3148
|1980= 2818
|1990= 2481
|2000= 2758
|2010= 2410
|2020= 2300
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
[[Image:U.S. Post Office, Las Animas, CO IMG 5736.JPG|thumb|U.S. Post Office in Las Animas]]
[[IMage:St. Mary's Catholic Church in Las Animas, CO (Photo 2) IMG 5727.JPG|right|thumb|St. Mary's [[Catholic]] Church in Las Animas]]

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 2,758 people, 1,091 households, and 716 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,134.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,264 housing units had an average density of {{convert|978.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 74.87% White, 0.91% African American, 2.86% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 15.34% from other races, and 5.44% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 42.6% of the population.

Of the 1,091 households, 31.0% had children under 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were not families. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the age distribution was 27.3% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 117.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,157, and for a family was $29,815. Males had a median income of $26,168 versus $23,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,893. About 19.7% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 39.3% of those under 18 and 14.4% of those 65 or over.
{{clear}}

==Santa Fe Trail Day==
[[File:Bent County, CO, Courthouse IMG 5719.JPG|thumb|right|[[Bent County Courthouse and Jail|Bent County Courthouse]]]]
Las Animas sits along the Mountain Branch of the [[Santa Fe Trail]] and served as the major city in southeast Colorado until the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad]] established operations in [[La Junta, Colorado|La Junta]], {{convert|20|mi}} to the west of Las Animas.

Las Animas celebrates an annual Santa Fe Trail Day, a celebration of the pioneers and traders who used this trail. This local holiday is the oldest student council-sponsored event in the US. The Las Animas High School Student Council organizes the day, with assistance from the Bent County Chamber of Commerce. Festivities have included a parade, a costume contest, [[square dancing]], a [[demolition derby]], and a traditional "Ranchburger" lunch, as well as many other activities. From 2002 and forward, students have spread out events over a two-day period, sometimes making this a weekend event. The event originally occurred/started on the last Friday in April.

As the event moves into another milestone, these, too, are milestones in the event's remarkable resilience:

•April 26, 2002, is the official start of a multiday event, spreading over the weekend.

•April 24, 2009, Las Animas celebrated its 75th Annual Santa Fe Trail Day with special guests, those who previously were the Santa Fe Trail Day Crowned Queen and those who had been previously elected Student Council President, as far back as 1944 attended.

•April 24, 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic, marked the first time in its history the town would not permit the community parade.

•Events were planned for April 26–28, 2024, in recognition for the 90th-anniversary commemoration.

==Education==
[[Image:Columbian Elementary School.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Columbian Elementary School (1916), photographed 2005]]
{{anchor|Columbian Elementary School}}
;Columbian Elementary School
Built in 1916 to replace the old Columbian School (1887), Columbian Elementary School was the only building of [[Spanish architecture]] style in Las Animas. It was also the only open-courtyard school in the state of Colorado. In 2004, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] because of its significance, and, needing renovation for continued use, it was on the 2004 Colorado Preservation, Inc. List of Endangered Places.<ref name="NPS"/><ref name="Mestas"/><ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite web |url=http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/OAHP/NRSR/5BN381_%28delisted%29.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Columbian Elementary School |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728204758/http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/OAHP/NRSR/5BN381_(delisted).pdf |archive-date=July 28, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=endangerlist>{{cite web |url=http://coloradopreservation.org/programs/endangered-places/endangered-places-archives/ |title=Endangered Places Archive |publisher=Colorado Preservation, Inc. |access-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731011355/http://coloradopreservation.org/programs/endangered-places/endangered-places-archives/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> As attempts were made to preserve the building, a modern facility was built to the west, inhabiting what was the playground and open area for the now demolished original structure. Though it was evaluated by outside sources as being unfit for the building's intended use, the city hired a demolition firm to remove the materials, though it was found to have had asbestos in the building materials, and from residents who witnessed the structure fall, there was only minimal containment.

Considered by the School Board and all but a handful of citizens to be too costly to renovate, this 90-year-old building was demolished on February 21, 2006.<ref name="Mestas">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001924/http://www.chieftain.com/print.php?article=%2Fmetro%2F1140875593%2F10 Mestas, Anthony A. "Old Columbian school falls to wrecker's ball"], ''The Pueblo Chieftain'', February 25, 2006</ref> Following demolition, the school was delisted on July 26, 2006.<ref name="NPS">[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2006-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf "Columbian Elementary School, Las Animas"], National Park Service</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.historycolorado.org/archaeologists/properties-removed-state-and-national-registers#bent |title=Colorado Historical Society description of removal |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705230127/http://www.historycolorado.org/archaeologists/properties-removed-state-and-national-registers#bent |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city constructed a new elementary school just west of the old school location.

==Transportation==
Las Animas is incorporated into the [[Bustang | Bustang's]] network. It is part of Lamar-Pueblo-Colorado Springs Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=November 30, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Las Animas, Colorado}}
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Las Animas include fur trader and rancher [[William Bent]],<ref name=Bent>{{cite web | last = Goodland | first = Jennifer | title = ''Bent's Fort: Trade in Transition'' | publisher = History Colorado | url = http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/Educators/bents_fort_primary_resource_set.pdf | access-date = June 23, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624103708/http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/Educators/bents_fort_primary_resource_set.pdf | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref> actor and singer [[Ken Curtis]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Ken Curtis - Biography | publisher = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193411/bio | access-date = June 23, 2016}}</ref> and editor and arts patron [[Mari Yoriko Sabusawa]].<ref>{{cite news | title = James Michener's Wife Dies | newspaper = The New York Times | date = September 27, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/27/obituaries/james-michener-s-wife-dies.html | access-date = June 23, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|North America|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Colorado]]
**[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
**[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
**[[Outline of Colorado]]
**[[Colorado cities and towns]]
***[[Colorado municipalities]]
**[[Colorado counties]]
***[[Bent County, Colorado]]
*[[Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site]]
*[[Santa Fe National Historic Trail]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|voy=Las Animas|}}
* {{official website|https://cityoflasanimasco.gov}}

{{Bent County, Colorado}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Bent County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River]]

Lake City, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:33:32Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Town in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Lake City, Colorado
| settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory town|Statutory Town]]
| motto = "A Peak Experience"

| image_skyline = File:Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado.jpg
| image_caption = Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado.
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map = Hinsdale_County_Colorado_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Lake_City_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 250x200px
| map_caption = Location in [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]] and the state of [[Colorado]]
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =

| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County Seat]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Local Affairs |access-date=September 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212060308/http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 }}</ref>
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =

| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|Statutory Town]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Dave Roberts<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lakecity.com/TownHall/BoardofTrustees.html |title=Board of Trustees |publisher=Town of Lake City |access-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204438/http://lakecity.com/TownHall/BoardofTrustees.html |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (town)]]
| established_date2 = September 19, 1884<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 =

| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 2.17
| area_land_km2 = 2.14
| area_water_km2 = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.84
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.83
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lake_City_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0842330 |title=Lake City town, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 5, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
| population_note =
| population_total = 432
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset = -7
| timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -6
| coordinates = {{coord|38|01|48|N|107|18|38|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 8672

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=October 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
| postal_code = 81235
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 08-42330
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2412863<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412863}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.townoflakecityco.gov/}}
}}

'''Lake City''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]] that is the [[county seat]] of, the most populous community in, and the only [[List of municipalities in Colorado|incorporated municipality]] in [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 432 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020" /> It is located in the [[San Juan Mountains]] in a valley formed by the convergence of Henson Creek and the headwaters of the [[Lake Fork Gunnison River|Lake Fork of the Gunnison River]] about {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} east of [[Uncompahgre Peak]], a Colorado [[fourteener]].
Lake City is named after nearby [[Lake San Cristobal]].<ref name="bright">{{cite book|last=Bright|first=William|title=Colorado Place Names|publisher=Big Earth Publishing|year=2004|edition=3|page=100|isbn=1-55566-333-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jW3SlDq8JmUC&pg=PA100}}</ref>
This area lies at the southern end of the [[Colorado Mineral Belt]] and when rich mineral deposits were discovered the native population was pushed from their tribal lands and the town of Lake City was incorporated in 1873.

==History==
With the completion of the first road into the mountains in this region, Lake City served as a supply center for the many miners and prospectors flooding into the area. As a supply center, the town boomed to as many as 3,000 to 5,000 settlers. But as the first-discovered deposits were found to be only moderately productive and no new extensive or rich deposits of minerals were found, by 1879 the boom had subsided. With the arrival of the [[Denver & Rio Grande Railroad]] in 1889, Lake City saw a second upturn in the economy that lasted into the 1890s. The railroad cut the cost of shipping gold and silver ores to [[smelters]], reduced the cost of shipping supplies into Lake City, and provided shipment of cattle and sheep into the area for summer grazing in the high Alpine meadows.

By 1905, the mining era was over and Lake City entered a decades-long period of economic decline. Population figures hovered at 1,000 then dropped to 400 after 1910. Although mining continued throughout the twentieth century, it consisted primarily of exploration and speculation rather than productive operation. Beginning in 1915, visitors began coming to Lake City for the entire summer season and by the 1930s tourism had emerged as a viable industry.

The Hinsdale County Historical Society formed in 1973 and began accumulating documents and photographs recording the town's history. In 1978, the Lake City Historic District was listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Residents have restored many of the boom town mining era buildings and currently promote tourism as an industry. Restoration has not only aided the local economy by making Lake City a desirable tourist destination, it has served economic development with preservation projects creating jobs for local carpenters, craftsmen, and contractors. Lake City's educational needs are served by the [[Lake City Community School]].

===Early history===

Prior to written history, the [[Ute people]] lived in this area of the [[San Juan Mountains|San Juan Mountain Range]] where they hunted and fished in the high mountain valleys during the summers. Even though the land was owned by the Utes as part of a treaty that set the area aside as a [[tribal reservation]], by the 1860s prospectors had begun to enter the region in search of minerals. When rich silver deposits were found in the Lake City area, word spread, and pressure was put on the federal government to negotiate a new treaty with the Utes. Consequently, the native population was again pushed from their lands when in 1873, a new treaty was negotiated under which the Utes [[Southern Ute Indian Reservation|gave up their rights]] to the San Juan Mountains. In 1873, the town of Lake City was incorporated as a supply center for the prospectors and miners who were flooding the area.<ref name="Colorado Travel">{{cite web | url=http://realcoloradotravel.com/lake-city-history/350/ | title=Lake City History | publisher=Colorado Travel | date=September 1, 2013 | access-date=January 23, 2015 | author=Leach, John | archive-date=January 21, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121014242/http://realcoloradotravel.com/lake-city-history/350/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lake City was platted in fall 1874 during construction of the Saguache & San Juan Wagon Toll Road, which opened the San Juan region for settlement. Town developers chose this location for the town site because of its flat terrain and abundant water. The broad valley provided a park-like setting which the optimistic town developers used to their advantage. They laid out a 260-acre town site that occupied the entire valley floor - 72 blocks of 32 uniform city lots, 25' x 125' in size. To promote the speculative town, [[Otto Mears]] subsidized ''The Silver World'' newspaper and published the first issue on June 19, 1875. It was the first newspaper published on the Western Slope.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District">{{cite web | url=http://www.lakecityhistoricdistrict.com/ | title=Lake City Colorado National Historic District | publisher=Town of Lake City | access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

It was not unusual for mining towns to grow into [[Boomtown|boom town]]s within a matter of only a few months, and Lake City was no exception. Promoted as the "Metropolis of San Juan", the town flourished as a distribution point for goods and supplies forwarded to mines and camps in the northern Hinsdale County mining districts. The initial influx of pioneers, prospectors, and miners attracted scores of merchants and dozens of lawyers and assayers to provide goods, supplies, and services. Merchants profited by outfitting the surge of prospectors who flooded into the area in 1876 and 1877 and by supplying dozens of mines in the outlying mining districts. The early boom years brought the usual [[red-light district]] to Lake City as was seen in any male-dominated mining town of that period. Records from 1878 show that the city had two breweries and a "Hell's Acre" district with 20 saloons, dance halls, and brothels. Lake City had as many as 3,000 to 5,000 residents at one time. But despite this promising activity, northern Hinsdale County's mining districts lacked the three key factors in mining development: year-round transportation, abundant ore, and capital to finance development of underground workings, and by 1879, the boom had subsided.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" /><ref name="Denver and Rio Grande">{{cite web|url=http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/marshall%20route/lakecity.htm |title=Lake City, CO |publisher=2005 Sandia Software All Rights Reserved |access-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227014405/http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/marshall%20route/lakecity.htm |archive-date=February 27, 2015 }}</ref>
Constructed of rapidly built wooden structures, much of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1879. The town was rebuilt using brick and stone, and consequently many of those structures remain today. By this time Lake City was manufacturing its own building materials using local lumber, locally quarried stone, and bricks made from clay obtained at the nearby [[Slumgullion Earthflow]]. The weekly Lake City Mining Register newspaper was published 1880–85. By 1884, the population was beginning to dwindle, but the arrival of the [[Denver & Rio Grande Railroad]] on [[narrow-gauge]] tracks that were laid in 1889 cut the cost of shipping gold and silver ores to [[smelters]], and the economy saw an upturn which extended into the 1890s.<ref name="Colorado Travel" />

==Denver and Rio Grande Railroad==
In 1889, the [[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] finished laying track from [[Sapinero, Colorado|Sapinero]] to Lake City; the distance spanned 36 miles, with 10 bridges. The "High Bridge" was 800 feet long and 113 feet high. The train averaged 12 miles per hour. According to local residents, "You didn’t want the Rio Grande engine to run over you because 'it was on you so long'."{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
The final cost of the construction of the branch was $770,996.80, a considerable sum at the time.<ref name="Lake City Hinsdale County Colorado">{{cite web | url=http://www.lakecity.com/mountain-town-activities/historic-attractions/17-things-to-do/history/10-the-d-rg-lake-city-branch-railroad-and-a-galloping-goose | title=The D&RG Lake City Branch Railroad and a Galloping Goose | work=Colorado Railroad Annual #14 | access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> The local newspaper welcomed the arrival of the D&RG:<ref name="Lake City, Colorado National Historic District ">{{cite web | url=http://www.lakecityhistoricdistrict.com/transportation-3.html | title=A Brief History of Lake City: The Mining Era, 1874-1904 | publisher=Town of Lake City | access-date=January 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123212017/http://www.lakecityhistoricdistrict.com/transportation-3.html | archive-date=January 23, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

:"The town has awakened from its long sleep; new people and new enterprises are coming in at a rapid rate; outside capital is coming to the rescue, and Lake City is on the eve of a prosperity such as it has never seen before. Mines that have been practically untouched for years are now being profitably worked under the impetus given by ample shipping facilities and cheaper rates; the stores and residences that have been so long vacant are rapidly filling up, and the patient people who have endured the horrors and the hardships of business inactivity for years now wear the smile of gladness and joy."

The Denver & Rio Grande line had additional impacts. The railroad bolstered the ranching industry by shipping cattle raised on ranches along the Lake Fork and by bringing sheep for summer grazing along the [[Lake Fork Gunnison River|Lake Fork valley]] in northern Hinsdale County. It also linked the isolated location with the rest of the state and nation, encouraging sportsmen and tourists to visit the upper Lake Fork.<ref name="Lake City, Colorado National Historic District" />

==Golden Fleece Mine==
In 1874, [[Enos T. Hotchkiss]] filed a claim five miles south of Lake City which led to the development of the [[Golden Fleece Mine (Colorado)|Golden Fleece Mine]]. Results from preliminary work in the mine were promising, and [[assay]] determination indicated the property was rich in high grade [[Telluride (chemistry)|telluride]] and gold ore at a short distance below the surface. But in November 1876, work on the Hotchkiss mine came to an abrupt halt when Hotchkiss was severely injured from a 30-foot fall down a mine shaft. After lying idle for many months, the mine was sold at a [[sheriff's sale]]. With new ownership, a rich vein of gold and a large vein of rich telluride ore were discovered in 1892, with one carload valued at more than $19,000. By 1904, it had produced $1,400,000 in silver and gold ore. The ruins of buildings at the Golden Fleece mine are still visible today.<ref>{{cite book|title=Portrait and Biographical Record of Denver and Vicinity Colorado, Containing Portraits and Biographies of many well known Citizens of the Past and Present together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States'' (portraited person: Charles H. Davis)''|publisher= Chapman Publishing Company|location= Chicago|date=1898|pages= 791–792}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Holmes, Richard Walker |author2=Kennedy, Marrianna B. |title=Mines and minerals of the Great American Rift (Colorado-New Mexico)|publisher= Van Nostrand Reinhold|date=1983|pages= 180–185|isbn= 978-0-442-28038-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Engineering and Mining Journal |title=Colorado|volume= 145 |issue=2 |date=1944|page=102 |issn= 0095-8948}} ([[CODEN]] ENMJAK).</ref>

==Alfred Packer==
[[File:Harpers Illustration 1cropped.jpg|thumb|left|''Harper's Weekly'', October 17, 1874, illustration of "A Colorado Tragedy".]]

In 1875, Lake City gained notoriety when [[Alfred Packer]] was charged with murder and cannibalism. Due to the nature of the crime, it was sensationalized and gained national attention. There are several differing accounts of the story, but according to one account Packer was acting as a guide for a party of five men prospecting in the [[San Juan Mountains]] when they became snowbound for the winter.

When he eventually came out of the mountains in the spring, he said the miners had abandoned him and he had nearly starved. However, because he looked surprisingly healthy and first asked for whiskey rather than food, suspicions began to arise. Five bodies that showed signs of cannibalism were found southeast of Lake City at the foot of [[Slumgullion Pass]], and Packer was arrested and held in the [[Saguache, Colorado|Saguache]] jail, but escaped. He fled to [[Cheyenne, Wyoming]], where he remained until 1883 when he was again arrested and brought to Lake City for trial. He was convicted of killing one of the five men and sentenced to be hanged. The Colorado Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1885, but the following year Packer was retried, convicted again, and sentenced to 40 years. He was paroled and released in 1901.<ref name="Colorado Travel" />

The Hinsdale County Museum, in downtown Lake City, hosts the most extensive collection of Packer memorabilia known, including a skull fragment from one of his victims, a pair of shackles used on Alfred when he was in the Lake City jail, a number of buttons from the clothes of the five men he eventually ate, and dolls and the dollhouse Packer built while in the Lake City Jail.<ref name="America's Favorite Cannibal">{{cite web|website=RoadsideAmerica.com|title=America's Favorite Cannibal|url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23839|access-date=February 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hinsdale County Museum—Lake City">{{cite web|title=Hinsdale County Museum—Lake City|url=http://www.uncovercolorado.com/museums/hinsdale-county-museum}}</ref> The area where the bodies were discovered is now known as [[Cannibal Plateau]].<ref name="Denver & Rio Grande">{{cite web|url=http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/marshall%20route/lakecity.htm |title=Lake City, CO |publisher=Denver & Rio Grande |access-date=January 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227014405/http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/marshall%20route/lakecity.htm |archive-date=February 27, 2015 }}</ref>
Packer is remembered by holding an annual Alfred Packer Jeep Tour and Barbecue.<ref name="Denver & Rio Grande" /> The cafeteria in the University of Colorado, Boulder student union is called the Alfred Packer Memorial Grill.<ref name="America's Favorite Cannibal"/><ref name="Denver & Rio Grande" />

==End of the economic boom days==
Despite the several booms that were seen in Lake City, it remained a quiet and peaceful village, perhaps because Lake City was founded by the powerful men of the time, such as Otto Meirs, who were speculating on a mineral wealth not yet discovered rather than on actual discoveries of any vastly rich mineral deposits. This village developed by building homes and businesses and moving families in rather than following the pattern of boom towns built for a boom crowd of prospectors having heard of a rich find and hoping to quickly strike it rich, as well. Lake City had four churches, a ball park, and a school, but unlike other boom towns - such as [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]] - few saloons or [[brothels]].<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

By 1905, the mining era was over and Lake City entered a decades-long period of economic decline. Population figures hovered at 1,000 then dropped to 400 after 1910. Although mining continued throughout the twentieth century, it consisted primarily of exploration and speculation rather than productive operation. Beginning in 1915, visitors began coming to Lake City for the entire summer season, and by the 1930s tourism had emerged as a viable industry. Although a number of properties were lost to fire or deterioration, the prolonged slump protected many of the town's historic properties from substantial alterations or from demolition as has occurred to many other 1870s buildings in Colorado.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

== Tourism ==
In the first half of the twentieth century, Lake City's economic base shifted from mining to tourism. People had recognized the area's scenic and recreational resources from the earliest days, however, Lake City's remote location had discouraged visitors. Until the branch of the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad line was completed in 1889, people journeyed by stagecoach 100 miles from Saguache or 140 miles from Del Norte. The rustic Lake Shore Inn opened at Lake San Cristobal in 1917, signaling the era of tourism that has continued into the twenty-first century.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

Beginning around 1920, visitors began arriving at Lake City by automobile. This trend grew as highways were developed to Colorado's western slope and roads were improved in Hinsdale County. Early auto tourists stayed in the mining era hotels. Lake City's first auto tourist court opened in 1929. From the 1930s through the 1960s, a half dozen or so tourist accommodations opened each decade in Lake City and along the Lake Fork.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

Lake City's mountain environs offered an array of outdoor recreation that encompassed fishing, hunting, boating, mountain climbing, horseback riding, hiking, tent camping, and picnicking.
Local merchants accommodated sportsmen; for example, Last Chance Livery and Feed Stable advertised "Fine Saddle Horses" and "Special Arrangements for Fishing and Hunting Parties" at the turn of the century. Lake City Café and Bakery offered to "cook your trout" and packed picnic lunches for visitors. An early booster club promoted boat racing on Lake San Cristobal. Within town, diversions included horse and bicycle racing around a quarter mile-circular track built about 1910 at Ball Flats. Sportsmen were invited to Lake City's "happy hunting grounds" and promised "if you make Lake City your camp headquarters you can be sure of bagging your buck." Game included deer, elk, bear, bighorn sheep, and wild turkey. [[Uncompahgre Peak]] and the surrounding mountains were covered by abandoned mining roads that became hiking trails, routes for trail rides and pack rides, and, later, jeep roads.<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

In the 1930s and 1940s, Lake City's isolated location and deteriorating buildings gave tourists and summer residents a sense of escaping from civilization. As in other isolated mountain towns, [[Rum-running|bootlegging]] and gambling created the allure of lawlessness. In 1949, a ''Denver Post'' reporter spoke of the town's numerous slot machines: "Virtually every business place in Lake City has one or more machines… The post office and telephone office are almost the only exceptions."<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

==Lake City National Historic District==
[[File:Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado.jpg|thumb|Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado]]

The Lake City Historic District contains a collection of intact buildings associated with the 1875-1881 boom as well as buildings constructed during the second boom period of the 1890s.
The town's remote location and decades of economic decline helped conserve the buildings from the mining era, and the weak local economy discouraged new construction; thus Lake City avoided many of the modern "improvements" to historic buildings that often occurs in more prosperous towns. The Hinsdale County Historical Society formed in 1973 and began accumulating documents and photographs recording the town's history, and has been a strong advocate for preservation in Lake City since then. In 1978, the Lake City Historic District was listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

In some cases restoration was as simple as removing a coat of paint from a brick building or removing a wood facade from an early building faced with stone, but in other cases more involved restoration was required. During the 1970s and 1980s, volunteers performed extensive preservation work on the Baptist church building, which had stood vacant and derelict in the 1930s. Hinsdale County acquired the John C. Bell cabin at 304 Third Street and restored it in 2000, removing stucco siding to reveal the 1876 log cabin that had served as the law office for Lake City's leading attorney in the 1880s. Also, many individual property owners have done restoration and upkeep to preserve their historic properties. Restoration has not only aided the local economy by making Lake City a desirable tourist destination, it has also served economic development with preservation projects creating jobs for local carpenters, craftsmen, and contractors.
<ref name="Lake City Colorado National Historic District" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 607
|1900= 700
|1910= 405
|1920= 317
|1930= 259
|1940= 185
|1950= 141
|1960= 106
|1970= 91
|1980= 206
|1990= 223
|2000= 375
|2010= 408
|2020= 432
}}{{Clear|left}}


==Geography and climate==
[[File:North Clear Creek Falls Observation Site - Overlook from National Forest Service.jpg|thumb|upright|[[North Clear Creek Falls]] Observation Site Overlook, Rio Grande National Forest]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and 1.18% is water.

Lake City experiences a [[Humid continental climate|continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[Humid continental climate#Dfb/Dwb: Warm summer subtype|''Dfb'']]'') that only just escapes being classified as [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] due to its relatively wet early springs and late autumns. On average, the wettest month is August, and the driest is February. Very large daily temperature swings are a regular feature of Lake City's climate, due to the elevation and aridity.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

{{Weather box
|location = Lake City, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–2010
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 57
|Feb record high F = 62
|Mar record high F = 68
|Apr record high F = 78
|May record high F = 83
|Jun record high F = 91
|Jul record high F = 98
|Aug record high F = 90
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 80
|Nov record high F = 70
|Dec record high F = 59

|Jan high F = 33.8
|Feb high F = 37.7
|Mar high F = 46.2
|Apr high F = 53.4
|May high F = 64.8
|Jun high F = 73.9
|Jul high F = 76.7
|Aug high F = 73.7
|Sep high F = 69.1
|Oct high F = 59.7
|Nov high F = 46.1
|Dec high F = 34.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 17.4
|Feb mean F = 22.8
|Mar mean F = 31.5
|Apr mean F = 39.1
|May mean F = 48.7
|Jun mean F = 57.1
|Jul mean F = 61.7
|Aug mean F = 59.5
|Sep mean F = 53.4
|Oct mean F = 43.8
|Nov mean F = 30.5
|Dec mean F = 18.5
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 1.1
|Feb low F = 7.9
|Mar low F = 16.8
|Apr low F = 24.7
|May low F = 32.7
|Jun low F = 40.3
|Jul low F = 46.7
|Aug low F = 45.3
|Sep low F = 37.6
|Oct low F = 27.8
|Nov low F = 14.9
|Dec low F = 3.0
|year low F =

|Jan record low F = -38
|Feb record low F = -30
|Mar record low F = -26
|Apr record low F = -18
|May record low F = 7
|Jun record low F = 16
|Jul record low F = 25
|Aug record low F = 25
|Sep record low F = 12
|Oct record low F = -2
|Nov record low F = -20
|Dec record low F = -32

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.83
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.65
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.76
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.02
|May precipitation inch = 1.06
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.71
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.12
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.45
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.56
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.27
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.96
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.4
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 6.2
|May precipitation days = 5.2
|Jun precipitation days = 5.1
|Jul precipitation days = 11.1
|Aug precipitation days = 14.4
|Sep precipitation days = 9.4
|Oct precipitation days = 6.9
|Nov precipitation days = 5.0
|Dec precipitation days = 4.9

|Jan snow inch = 13.8
|Feb snow inch = 10.5
|Mar snow inch = 12.6
|Apr snow inch = 8.2
|May snow inch = 4.0
|Jun snow inch = trace
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.6
|Oct snow inch = 3.4
|Nov snow inch = 12.4
|Dec snow inch = 13.2
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.7
|Feb snow days = 5.1
|Mar snow days = 6.3
|Apr snow days = 3.8
|May snow days = 1.5
|Jun snow days = 0.1
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 1.4
|Nov snow days = 4.9
|Dec snow days = 5.6

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00054734&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Lake City, CO (1991–2020)
|access-date = February 19, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00054734&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Lake City, CO (1981–2010)
|access-date = February 19, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = February 19, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Lake City 1NNE, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals: {{convert|8714|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan high F = 31.3
|Feb high F = 35.9
|Mar high F = 43.3
|Apr high F = 51.4
|May high F = 61.9
|Jun high F = 73.6
|Jul high F = 77.4
|Aug high F = 74.5
|Sep high F = 68.2
|Oct high F = 57.5
|Nov high F = 42.7
|Dec high F = 31.3
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 15.2
|Feb mean F = 19.7
|Mar mean F = 29.2
|Apr mean F = 37.2
|May mean F = 46.0
|Jun mean F = 55.8
|Jul mean F = 60.8
|Aug mean F = 58.9
|Sep mean F = 52.3
|Oct mean F = 41.2
|Nov mean F = 27.7
|Dec mean F = 16.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = -0.9
|Feb low F = 3.5
|Mar low F = 15.1
|Apr low F = 22.9
|May low F = 30.1
|Jun low F = 37.9
|Jul low F = 44.1
|Aug low F = 43.3
|Sep low F = 36.4
|Oct low F = 24.8
|Nov low F = 12.6
|Dec low F = 0.7
|year low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.22
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.05
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.60
|May precipitation inch = 1.26
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.03
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.55
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.61
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.83
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.06
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.06
|year precipitation inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA2>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00054736&format=pdf
|title = Lake City 1NNE, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = November 3, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Notable people==


*[[Montana F. Smith]], Colorado state legislator

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway]]
*[[San Juan Mountains]]
*[[Colorado Scenic Byways#Silver Thread Scenic Byway|Silver Thread Scenic Byway]]
*[[Slumgullion Pass]]
*[[Uncompahgre Peak]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[http://www.lakecity.com/ Lake City Hinsdale County Marketing Board and Chamber of Commerce, The Official Lake City Website]
*[http://www.townoflakecity.co/ Town of Lake City municipal website]
*{{cite web|website=MaryCarkin.com|url=http://www.marycarkin.com/LakeCityHistoricWalkingTour.pdf|title=Lake City Historic Walking Tour, a National Historic District|access-date=February 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714043111/http://www.marycarkin.com/LakeCityHistoricWalkingTour.pdf|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{Hinsdale County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|show}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Hinsdale County, Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Colorado]]
[[Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]

Fairplay, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:27:03Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{short description|Town in Park County, Colorado, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Fairplay, Colorado
| settlement_type = [[County seat]] and [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref>
| nicknames = The Real South Park South Park City
| motto = "Where History Meets the High Country"

| image_skyline = Image:DSCN3327 fairplayandsouthparkcity e 600.jpg
| image_caption = View of Fairplay and South Park looking south from State Highway 9. The historic buildings of [[South Park City]], an open-air museum, are in the foreground.
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map = File:Park County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fairplay Highlighted 0825610.svg
| map_caption = Location of the Town of Fairplay in {{nowrap|[[Park County, Colorado]].}}
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_label = Fairplay
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Fairplay in the {{nowrap|[[United States]].}}

| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Park County, Colorado|Park]]<ref name=COMun/>

| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|Statutory town]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Frank Just<ref>{{cite web | title = Mayor and Board of Trustees | publisher = Town of Fairplay, Colorado | url = http://www.fairplayco.us/mayorboard.html | access-date = June 10, 2014}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| established_title = [[Human settlement|Settled]]
| established_date = 1859
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = November 15, 1872<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date3 =

| unit_pref = US
| total_type = Total
| area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 10, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 2.995
| area_land_km2 = 2.971
| area_water_km2 = 0.024
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 9948

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total = 724
| population_density_sq_mi = 631
| population_metro = 2,963,821 ([[List of metropolitan statistical areas|19th]])
| population_blank1_title = [[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank1 = 3,623,560 ([[List of primary statistical areas|17th]])
| population_blank2_title = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
| population_blank2 = 5,055,344

| timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset1 = −07:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −06:00
| coordinates = {{coord|39|13|28|N|105|59|53|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=September 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
| postal_code = 80440 & 80456, 80432 ([[PO Box]])
| area_code = [[Area code 719|719]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 08-25610
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
| blank1_info = 2412616<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412616}}</ref>
| website = [http://fairplayco.us fairplayco.us]
}}

'''Fairplay''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Park County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The town population was 724 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Fairplay is located in [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|South Park]] at an elevation of {{convert|9953|ft|m|0|sp=us}}. The town is the fifth-highest incorporated place in the State of Colorado.<ref name=mesalek>{{cite web | url = http://www.mesalek.com/colo/trivia/elev.html | title = Colorado Highways: Elevation-Related Trivia Items | publisher = Matthew E. Salek | access-date = September 14, 2007}}</ref> Fairplay is a part of the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]].

==History==
A historic gold mining settlement, the town was founded in 1859 during the early days of the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Real South Park Colorado |url=https://www.colorado.com/articles/real-south-park-colorado |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Colorado.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Noel |first=Thomas |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Fairplay |url=https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/fairplay |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=coloradoencyclopedia.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The town was named by settlers who were upset by the generous mining claims given to the earliest prospectors and promised a more equitable system for its residents.<ref name=fossett1880>{{cite book|title=Colorado, its gold and silver mines: farms and stock ranges, and health and pleasure resorts : tourist's guide to the Rocky Mountains|first=Frank|last=Fossett|publisher=C.G. Crawford, printer and stationer|year=1880|url=https://archive.org/details/coloradoitsgold00fossgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/coloradoitsgold00fossgoog/page/n139 123]|isbn=9780405049736}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n122 123]}}</ref> The town of Fairplay was incorporated in 1872.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Fairplay-Colorado.html|title=Fairplay, Colorado
|publisher=City-Data.com|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Fairplay, Colorado - c. late 1800s.jpg|thumb|left|Front Street, late 1800s]]
[[File:Postcard of the town of Fairplay in the late 1800s - DPLA - a9a14d84171804fac9c2d6b2ed193adf.jpg|alt=Looking over the town of Fairplay in late 1800s.|left|thumb|Looking over the town of Fairplay in late 1800s.]]

It is the largest community in the grassland basin of Colorado known as [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|South Park]], sitting on the west edge of the basin at the junction of [[U.S. Highway 285 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 285]] and [[Colorado State Highway 9|State Highway 9]]. It is on a hillside just east of the [[Middle Fork South Platte River]], near where Highway 9 ascends the river valley northward to [[Alma, Colorado|Alma]] and [[Hoosier Pass (Continental Divide)|Hoosier Pass]]. It is a quiet town, and the roads surrounding it have a low volume of traffic. Although it was founded during the initial [[placer mining]] boom, the mines in the area continued to produce gold and silver [[ore]] for many decades up through the middle of the 20th century.

The town consists of modern retail businesses along the highway, as well as a historic town on the bluff above the river along Front Street. The northern extension of Front Street along the river has been preserved and has become the site of relocated historic structures as an open-air museum called [[South Park City]], intended to recreate the early days of the Colorado Gold Rush. Most of the residences in town are located on the hillside west of US Highway 285 and east of State Highway 9, in the vicinity of the schools and Park County Courthouse. The majority of the streets in town were finally paved in 2005.

==Geography==
As of the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|2.995|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.024|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Fairplay has a [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] or [[Montane ecosystems|subalpine]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen]]: Dfc) given its elevation, with short cool summers, and long, windy and cold winters. Temperature ranges between day and night are large, due to the high elevation, low cloud cover, and dryness of the air.
{{Weather box
|location = Fairplay, 1991–2020 normals, 2003-2019 snowfall; 9995ft (3046m)
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 55
|Feb record high F = 57
|Mar record high F = 60
|Apr record high F = 63
|May record high F = 74
|Jun record high F = 83
|Jul record high F = 84
|Aug record high F = 80
|Sep record high F = 77
|Oct record high F = 72
|Nov record high F = 62
|Dec record high F = 53
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 47
|Feb avg record high F = 46
|Mar avg record high F = 53
|Apr avg record high F = 59
|May avg record high F = 68
|Jun avg record high F = 78
|Jul avg record high F = 80
|Aug avg record high F = 76
|Sep avg record high F = 73
|Oct avg record high F = 66
|Nov avg record high F = 55
|Dec avg record high F = 47
|year avg record high F = 84

|Jan high F = 30.8
|Feb high F = 30.9
|Mar high F = 38.1
|Apr high F = 44.5
|May high F = 54.5
|Jun high F = 65.8
|Jul high F = 71.0
|Aug high F = 68.3
|Sep high F = 62.1
|Oct high F = 50.9
|Nov high F = 39.1
|Dec high F = 30.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 20.2
|Feb mean F = 20.1
|Mar mean F = 26.9
|Apr mean F = 33.2
|May mean F = 41.8
|Jun mean F = 51.2
|Jul mean F = 56.7
|Aug mean F = 54.6
|Sep mean F = 48.4
|Oct mean F = 38.4
|Nov mean F = 28.0
|Dec mean F = 20.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 9.7
|Feb low F = 9.3
|Mar low F = 15.6
|Apr low F = 21.9
|May low F = 29.1
|Jun low F = 36.6
|Jul low F = 42.4
|Aug low F = 41.0
|Sep low F = 34.7
|Oct low F = 25.9
|Nov low F = 16.8
|Dec low F = 9.7
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F= -7
|Feb avg record low F= -11
|Mar avg record low F= -2
|Apr avg record low F = 8
|May avg record low F = 15
|Jun avg record low F = 29
|Jul avg record low F = 37
|Aug avg record low F = 34
|Sep avg record low F = 26
|Oct avg record low F = 9
|Nov avg record low F = -2
|Dec avg record low F = −11
|year avg record low F = −14

|Jan record low F = −20
|Feb record low F = −28
|Mar record low F = −11
|Apr record low F = -5
|May record low F = 2
|Jun record low F = 23
|Jul record low F = 33
|Aug record low F = 30
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = -14
|Nov record low F = -13
|Dec record low F = −19
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.65
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.66
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.10
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.35
|May precipitation inch = 1.78
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.13
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.40
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.22
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.44
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.01
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.63
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.73
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 7.9
|Feb snow inch = 10.1
|Mar snow inch = 13.4
|Apr snow inch = 12.7
|May snow inch = 8.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = trace
|Aug snow inch = trace
|Sep snow inch = 1.0
|Oct snow inch = 6.9
|Nov snow inch = 7.6
|Dec snow inch = 11.9
|year snow inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA1>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00052816&format=pdf
|title = Fairplay S Park RD, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = November 4, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS (snowfall, records & monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS
|access-date = November 4, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=right
|1890= 301
|1900= 319
|1910= 265
|1920= 183
|1930= 221
|1940= 739
|1950= 476
|1960= 404
|1970= 419
|1980= 421
|1990= 387
|2000= 610
|2010= 679
|2020= 724
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 610 people, 259 households, and 169 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|576|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 337 housing units at an average density of {{convert|318|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.8% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.9% of the population.

There were 259 households, out of which 32% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34% were non-families. 26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.8.

Approximately 24% of the town under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 37% from 25 to 44, 25% from 45 to 64, and 5% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 110 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,385, and the median income for a family was $51,980. Males had a median income of $34,290 versus $26,430 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $21,740. About 6.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:NMHFM-361.gif|thumb|left|Fairplay dredge, 1940s, the largest [[gold dredge]] in Colorado]]

=== Burro Days ===
The Burro Days festival is held on the last weekend of July.<ref>{{cite web|title=Burro Days|url=http://www.burrodays.com/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707035310/http://www.burrodays.com/index.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 7, 2006|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> The event celebrates the town's mining heritage. The main feature of the festival is a 29-mile (46.7 km) burro race over rough terrain and approximately 3,000-ft (914 m) elevation gain from downtown Fairplay to the 13,185-ft (4019 m) summit of [[Mosquito Pass]]. Teams consist of one person and one [[Donkey|burro]]. The race takes about five hours to complete; first prize is $1,000. Previously, the first prize included an ounce of gold. There are several other [[burro racing|burro races]] in Colorado; the most notable takes place in [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]].

The Fairplay event is the World Championship of Burro Racing, an [[ultra-marathon]] and the longest burro race in the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation|url=http://www.packburroracing.com/#RULES|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> For many years (in the 1960s and early 1970s) the Burro race took place from Leadville to Fairplay, or vice versa, crossing over Mosquito Pass. This followed the route that Father [[John Lewis Dyer]] of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] used for [[Circuit rider (religious)|circuit riding]] and for carrying mail. With time, the rivalry between the two cities ended this cooperative endeavor.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
Fairplay is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] intercity bus network. It is on the Gunnison-Denver Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Sheldon Jackson]], Presbyterian missionary who established what is now the South Park Community Presbyterian Church in Fairplay

{{wide image|Fairplay_180_degrees.jpg|1192px|View of Fairplay and South Park.}}

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado }}
*[[South Park City]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
* {{official website|http://www.fairplayco.us}}
* [http://southparkchamber.com/ South Park Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.southparkcity.org/ South Park City], open-air mining-history museum

{{Park County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Park County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]

Cortez, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:24:22Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

|name = Cortez, Colorado
|settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref>
|motto =

|image_skyline = Cortez City Hall.JPG
|image_caption = Cortez city hall, built in 2017.
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_blank_emblem = Cortez, Colorado logo.png
|blank_emblem_type = Logo
|blank_emblem_size = 105px
|image_map = Montezuma County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Cortez Highlighted 0817375.svg
|map_caption = Location of the City of Cortez in {{nowrap|[[Montezuma County, Colorado]]}}
|image_map1 =
|map_caption1 =

|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado}}
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Montezuma County, Colorado|Montezuma County seat]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>

|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun/>
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Rachel Medina<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Rachel Medina, Cortez's New Mayor |url=https://www.the-journal.com/articles/meet-rachel-medina-cortezs-new-mayor/ |website=The Journal |access-date=June 3, 2022}}</ref>
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name2 =
|established_title = 
|established_date =
|established_title2 = 
|established_date2 =
|established_title3 = 
|established_date3 =

|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 16.249
|area_land_km2 = 16.136
|area_water_km2 = 0.113

|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total = 8,766
|population_density_sq_mi = 1,407

|timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset1 = −07:00
|timezone1_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset1_DST = −06:00
|coordinates = {{coord|37|22|05|N|108|33|45|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2014.html|title=2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date=July 1, 2014|access-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft = 6181

|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code = 81321
|area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 08-17375
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
|blank1_info = 2410236<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410236}}</ref>
|website = {{URL|https://www.cortezco.gov/|cortezco.gov}}
}}

'''Cortez''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-cortez_(colorado).ogg|'|k|ɔɹ|t|ɛ|z}}) is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home-rule municipality]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Montezuma County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> The city's population was 8,766 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/>

==History==
In 1886, the town was built to provide housing for the men working on the tunnels and irrigation ditches required to divert water out of the [[Dolores River]] and into [[Montezuma Valley]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cityofcortez.com/government/mayor_city_council/advisory_boards/historic_preservation/history_cortez| title= History of Cortez| publisher= The City of Cortez| access-date= June 7, 2012| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120514050248/http://www.cityofcortez.com/government/mayor_city_council/advisory_boards/historic_preservation/history_cortez| archive-date= May 14, 2012}}</ref> The town was named for [[Spanish conquistador]] [[Hernán Cortés]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|year=1954 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=21|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=15}}</ref> The Cortez, Colorado, post office opened on June 21, 1887.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> It is a popular stop for [[tourists]], who stay there because of its central location among surrounding attractions, such as [[Mesa Verde National Park]], [[Monument Valley]], and the [[Four Corners]].

===Prehistoric sites===
Many [[Prehistory of Colorado#Indigenous peoples' sites in Colorado|prehistoric sites]] in the Cortez area are listed on the [[Colorado State Register of Historic Properties]] or both the state register and the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. They include large parks or centers, such as [[Crow Canyon Archaeological Center]], [[Canyons of the Ancients National Monument|Canyon of the Ancients National Monument]], [[Hovenweep National Monument]], and [[Mesa Verde National Park]]. Also, smaller or individuals sites, such as [[Cowboy Wash]], [[Hawkins Preserve|Hawkins Pueblo and cliff dwellings]], [[Lowry Ruin]], [[Mitchell Springs Archeological Site]], also known as the Mitchell Springs Ruin Group, [[Mud Springs Pueblo]], and [[Yucca House National Monument]]. Within the McElmo Drainage Unit (AD 1075–1300) is [[Cannonball Ruins]], Maxwell Community, [[Roy's Ruin]], [[Sand Canyon Archaeological District]], and [[Wallace Ruin]] are found there.<ref>
[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/co/Montezuma/state.html ''National Register of Historic Places in Montezuma County, Colorado''] American Dreams, Inc. Retrieved October 7, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://oahp.historycolorado.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/mt.htm National & State Registers.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424230703/http://oahp.historycolorado.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/mt.htm |date=April 24, 2012 }} Colorado Historical Society, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Retrieved July 10, 2011.</ref>

{{See also|List of prehistoric sites in Colorado}}

===Historic trails or byways===
Trails or byways through the Cortez area include:
*[[Old Spanish National Historic Trail]]
*[[San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway]]
*[[Trail of the Ancients]]

===1959 U-2 emergency landing===
A [[Lockheed U-2]] reconnaissance aircraft made an emergency nighttime forced landing August 3, 1959, at the [[Cortez Municipal Airport]].<ref name="Taipei Times">{{cite web | url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2010/02/27/2003466699 | title=1959 "alien landing" was an ROC pilot in a spy plane 「外星人登陸」？ U2機台灣駕駛啦！ | work=Taipei Times | date=February 27, 2010 | access-date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> Republic of China Air Force Major [[Hsi-Chun Mike Hua]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.flycortez.org/Events.html | title=2009 Cortez Aviation Heritage Celebration | publisher=Cortez Aviation Heritage Society | access-date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> was on a training flight originating at [[Laughlin AFB]], Texas; the U-2 aircraft engine flamed out at 70,000 feet AMSL. Maj. Hua established best glide and was able to navigate through a valley to a lighted airport that was not on his map, of the existence of which he was unaware until he found it. The airport was the only one in the area with a lighted runway illuminated overnight.<ref name="Taipei Times" />

==Geography==
At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|16.249|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.113|km2|acre|order=flip}} covered by water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Cortez has a dry-summer [[continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dsb''), though it borders on a [[semiarid climate]] (''BSk'') due to low precipitation. The city has hot summer days and cold winter nights, the latter a result of its elevation.

{{Weather box
|location = Cortez, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 63
|Feb record high F = 79
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 88
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 75
|Dec record high F = 65

|Jan avg record high F = 54.3
|Feb avg record high F = 59.8
|Mar avg record high F = 69.8
|Apr avg record high F = 77.4
|May avg record high F = 86.3
|Jun avg record high F = 94.2
|Jul avg record high F = 98.0
|Aug avg record high F = 94.6
|Sep avg record high F = 90.0
|Oct avg record high F = 80.5
|Nov avg record high F = 67.6
|Dec avg record high F = 56.6
|year avg record high F = 98.3

|Jan high F = 42.9
|Feb high F = 47.2
|Mar high F = 56.0
|Apr high F = 63.5
|May high F = 73.4
|Jun high F = 85.3
|Jul high F = 90.5
|Aug high F = 87.7
|Sep high F = 80.1
|Oct high F = 67.4
|Nov high F = 54.1
|Dec high F = 43.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 29.7
|Feb mean F = 34.4
|Mar mean F = 41.8
|Apr mean F = 48.2
|May mean F = 57.3
|Jun mean F = 67.3
|Jul mean F = 73.8
|Aug mean F = 71.7
|Sep mean F = 63.8
|Oct mean F = 51.5
|Nov mean F = 39.9
|Dec mean F = 30.4
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 16.6
|Feb low F = 21.5
|Mar low F = 27.6
|Apr low F = 32.9
|May low F = 41.3
|Jun low F = 49.4
|Jul low F = 57.2
|Aug low F = 55.8
|Sep low F = 47.5
|Oct low F = 35.5
|Nov low F = 25.8
|Dec low F = 17.7
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -1.0
|Feb avg record low F = 4.0
|Mar avg record low F = 13.9
|Apr avg record low F = 20.5
|May avg record low F = 27.9
|Jun avg record low F = 37.3
|Jul avg record low F = 47.6
|Aug avg record low F = 47.2
|Sep avg record low F = 34.1
|Oct avg record low F = 21.3
|Nov avg record low F = 10.5
|Dec avg record low F = 0.3
|year avg record low F = -4.3

|Jan record low F = -27
|Feb record low F = -31
|Mar record low F = -7
|Apr record low F = 6
|May record low F = 15
|Jun record low F = 27
|Jul record low F = 31
|Aug record low F = 30
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 7
|Nov record low F = -14
|Dec record low F = -22

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.06
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.96
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.86
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.72
|May precipitation inch = 0.93
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.37
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.25
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.34
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.48
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.08
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.85
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.89
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.7
|Feb precipitation days = 7.0
|Mar precipitation days = 6.1
|Apr precipitation days = 5.4
|May precipitation days = 6.0
|Jun precipitation days = 2.8
|Jul precipitation days = 7.4
|Aug precipitation days = 8.4
|Sep precipitation days = 6.9
|Oct precipitation days = 5.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.0
|Dec precipitation days = 7.2

|Jan snow inch = 8.0
|Feb snow inch = 7.2
|Mar snow inch = 5.0
|Apr snow inch = 2.2
|May snow inch = 0.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.6
|Nov snow inch = 2.7
|Dec snow inch = 7.4
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.8
|Feb snow days = 4.6
|Mar snow days = 3.6
|Apr snow days = 1.9
|May snow days = 0.4
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.5
|Nov snow days = 1.9
|Dec snow days = 5.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 5.1
|Feb snow depth inch = 4.1
|Mar snow depth inch = 1.6
|Apr snow depth inch = 0.7
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.3
|Nov snow depth inch = 1.3
|Dec snow depth inch = 3.8
|year snow depth inch = 6.6

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00051886&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Cortez, CO
|access-date = November 6, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 6, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 332
|1900= 125
|1910= 565
|1920= 541
|1930= 921
|1940= 1778
|1950= 2680
|1960= 6764
|1970= 6032
|1980= 7095
|1990= 7284
|2000= 7977
|2010= 8482
|2020= 8766
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

As of the 2010 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> 8,482 people, 3,590 households, and 2,234 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,449.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 3,885 housing units had an average density of {{convert|637.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male (4,083) and 51.9% female (4,399). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 79.2% White, 0.4% African American, 11.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 6.04% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 13.3% of the population.

Of the 3,590 households, 30.8% had children under 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were not families. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.7% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the [[Scott Tipton|city]] was $28,776, and for a family was $35,533. Males had a median income of $30,755 versus $20,280 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,040. About 14.8% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.3% of those under 18 and 17.3% of those 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Economy==
[[File:Main Street in Cortez, CO.JPG|thumb|View looking southeast of Main Street in Cortez, with the cliff faces of the [[Mesa Verde Region|Mesa Verde]] visible in the distance]]

Cortez is a local commercial center, competing with [[Durango, Colorado|Durango]] in the east, and [[Farmington, New Mexico]], in the south, and draws trade from southeastern [[Utah]], the extreme northeastern corner of [[Arizona]], the [[Shiprock]] area of northwestern [[New Mexico]], and San Miguel, Dolores, Montezuma, and parts of La Plata County in Colorado. Its economy is based very heavily on tourism, both to nearby [[Mesa Verde National Park]] and [[San Juan National Forest]], [[Bureau of Land Management]] (BLM) lands in the area (including [[Canyons of the Ancients National Monument]], as well as the [[Ute Mountain Ute Tribe]] and [[Navajo Nation|Navajo Indian Reservations]]).

[[Mesa Verde National Park]], featuring [[Ancestral Puebloans|Ancestral Pueblo]] cliff dwellings, is situated southeast of Cortez.

Cortez is home to the headquarters of [[Osprey Packs]], which employs over 100 people in Cortez.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mimiaga |first=Jim |title=The Osprey Packs story: Its roots, success, sale and its future in Cortez |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/the-osprey-packs-story-its-roots-success-sale-and-its-future-in-cortez/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=Durango Herald |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
Cortez Public Schools are part of the [[Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1]]. The district has one preschool, five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The educational system is currently suffering a loss of 1.6% according to the [[Transitional Colorado Assessment Program]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 Preschool, Kemper Elementary School, Lewis-Arriola Elementary School, Manaugh Elementary School, Mesa Elementary School, Pleasant View Elementary School, Cortez Middle School, and [[Montezuma-Cortez High School]] are located in Cortez. The high school mascot is the Panther.

==Government==
The city council of Cortez is composed of seven members, including the mayor and mayor ''pro tempore''. The current mayor of Cortez is Rachel Medina and the mayor ''pro tem'' is Lydia DeHaven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofcortez.com/111/City-Council|title=City Council - Cortez, CO - Official Website|website= City of Cortez|access-date= January 21, 2020}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Cortez Municipal Airport]] serves Cortez, which is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network and is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
*[[William B. Ebbert]], rancher and politician, represented Cortez in the Colorado General Assembly.
*[[Vince Lee (Explorer)|Vince Lee]], American architect, climber, and mountaineer
*[[Michael Milenski]], Cortez native who was founder and general director of Long Beach Opera
*[[Chuck Nevitt]], former NBA basketball player
*[[Scott Tipton]], U.S. House of Representatives - Colorado's 3rd District
*[[Eli Tomac]], professional dirt bike racer

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
* [[Four Corners]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cityofcortez.com/ City of Cortez website]

{{Montezuma County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|show}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Montezuma County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1886]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in Colorado]]

Central City, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:21:39Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Home-rule city in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, Colorado, US}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{infobox settlement

|name = Central City, Colorado
|official_name = City of Central
|settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>
|nickname = '''The Richest Square Mile on Earth'''
|motto =

|image_skyline = Teller House Central City CO.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The Teller House in Central City
|image_map = Clear Creek County and Gilpin County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Central City Highlighted 0812910.svg
|mapsize =
|map_caption = Location of Central City in [[Gilpin County, Colorado|Gilpin]] and [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]]

|pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief =
|pushpin_label = Central City
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of the City of Central, Colorado.

|coordinates = {{coord|39.8019322|-105.5141639|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-181484|name=Central City, Colorado|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=181484|name=Central City, Colorado|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft = 8498
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|Counties]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>
|subdivision_name2 = [[Gilpin County, Colorado|Gilpin]] [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek]]

|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun/>
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|established_title = [[Settled]]
|established_date = 1859
|established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2 = June 12, 1886<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = https://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
|established_title3 = 
|established_date3 =

|unit_pref = US
|area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 5.5940
|area_land_km2 = 5.5937
|area_water_km2 = 0.0003

|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total = 779
|population_density_sq_mi = 361
|population_metro = 2,963,821 ([[List of metropolitan statistical areas|19th]])
|population_blank1_title = [[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1 = 3,623,560 ([[List of primary statistical areas|17th]])

|timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset = −07:00
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = −06:00

|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>
|postal_code = 80427
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code = [[Area codes 303, 720, and 983|303/720/983]]
|blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info = {{GNIS 4|181484}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS city ID]]
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2409427}}
|blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|12900}}
|website = {{URL|https://centralcity.colorado.gov/}}
}}

'''Central City''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule municipality]] located in [[Gilpin County, Colorado|Gilpin]] and [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek counties]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> Central City is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in Gilpin County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city population was 779, all in Gilpin County, at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> The city is a historic mining settlement founded in 1859 during the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]] and came to be known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth". Central City and the adjacent city of [[Black Hawk, Colorado|Black Hawk]] form the federally designated [[Central City/Black Hawk Historic District]]. The city is now a part of the [[Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]].

==History==
[[File:Central City, Colorado (1862).png|thumb|left|Central City, 1862]]
[[File:OperaHouseCC.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Central City Opera House, 1934]]

On May 6, 1859, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, John H. Gregory found a [[gold]]-bearing vein (the Gregory Lode) in Gregory Gulch between Black Hawk and Central City.<ref name="GoldFind">{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19320710-01.2.450 |title=Gold Find in 1859 Starts Great Central City Boom|date=1932-07-10|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> Within two months many other veins were discovered, including the Bates, Gunnell, Kansas, and Burroughs.<ref name = "Sims"/>

The Mountain City, Kansas Territory, post office opened on January 17, 1860<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> The area uphill (west) from Mountain City was known as Central City. As many as 10,000 prospectors soon flocked to the town and surrounding prospects. On February 28, 1861, [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[James Buchanan]] signed an [[Colorado Organic Act|act]] creating the [[Free state (United States)|free]] [[Colorado Territory|Territory of Colorado]].<ref name=Colorado_Organic_Act>{{cite web|url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llsl//llsl-c36/llsl-c36.pdf|page=172|title=An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado|author=Thirty-sixth United States Congress|author-link=36th United States Congress|date=February 28, 1861|access-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref> On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territory created [[Gilpin County, Colorado|Gilpin County]] with Central City as the county seat.

The year 1863 brought the first attempt by hard rock miners to form a hard rock miners' union. Of 125 miners signing a union resolution in Mountain City, about fifty broke windows and doors at the Bob Tail mine, forcing other workers out. After a night of shooting and fighting, the union effort among Central City miners failed.<ref>Mark Wyman, ''Hard Rock Epic, Western Miners and the Industrial Revolution, 1860-1910'', 1979, pages 151-152.</ref>

On March 11, 1864, Mountain City, Colorado Territory, was officially incorporated, with John S. McCool serving as the first mayor.<ref name="GoldFind"/>

Many [[Chinese American|Chinese]] immigrants lived in Mountain City during the early days working the [[placer deposit]]s of Gregory Gulch. They were forbidden to work in the underground mines. Most of them are believed to have returned to [[China]] after making their stake.

The frontier gambler [[Poker Alice]] lived for a time in Central City and several other Colorado mining communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Poker Alice – Famous Frontier Gambler |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-pokeralice.html |access-date=May 10, 2012 |publisher=Legends of America}}</ref>

As the mining pits expanded, the Mountain City post office was moved uphill and reopened as the Central City, Colorado Territory, post office on October 8, 1869.<ref name=CPO/>

On April 28, 1873, the city was visited by U.S. President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and the [[Julia Grant|first lady]], who arrived with a group including [[Samuel Hitt Elbert|Governor Elbert]], ex-governor [[Edward M. McCook]], [[Jerome B. Chaffee]], [[Henry M. Teller]], [[William S. Harney|General Harney]], and [[Orville E. Babcock|General Babcock]]. The party came to Black Hawk from Golden via train, then transferred to carriages for the transit to Central City. Upon arrival, the procession paraded through town, which was thronged with spectators, before stopping at the Teller House at 1 p.m. In preparation for their visit, the sidewalk leading to the entrance had been covered with silver bricks from the Caribou Mine, valued at about $13,000. President Grant was reportedly incredulous when he walked over the silver bricks to the entrance and learned that they were pure silver. After dinner and a reception, the party departed for [[Idaho Springs]], the next stop on Grant's tour of Colorado.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=DCR18730429.2.42|title=His Excellency the President of the United States|date=1873-04-29|access-date=2025-06-06}}</ref>

On May 22, 1874, a fire started in a Chinese laundry on Gregory street at 11 a.m. and spread quickly throughout the town. A request for help was sent to Golden and the Excelsior Fire Company took a special train to Central City to help fight the fire, arriving to cheers from the locals. Smoke billowing from the fire could be observed as far as Denver, which also sent a fire engine by train after receiving a dispatch to the mayor of Denver stating "The flames are still raging. Send assistance." By 3:30 p.m. the fire was under control, but not before destroying most of the city. The Teller House, Catholic church, Roworth's City Bakery, and several other structures survived the fire, while about 150 structures were destroyed. Many people lost their homes, businesses and belongings as a result, forcing the town to undertake a large effort to rebuild. Total losses from the fire were estimated to exceed half a million dollars.<ref name="GoldFind"/><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19350629-01.2.309 |title=Central City Fire Disastrous in 1874|date=1935-06-29|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Rocky Mountain News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=CLM18740523-01.2.23 |title=FIRE!|date=1874-05-23|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Colorado Miner}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18740621-01.2.12 |title=Central Four Weeks After the Fire|date=1874-06-21|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Rocky Mountain News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18740522-01.2.2 |title=Great Conflagration in Central City|date=1874-05-22|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Rocky Mountain News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=DTM18740521.2.1 |title=FIRE. Reported Destruction of Central City. |date=1874-05-21|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=Denver Daily Times}}</ref> To help prevent future fires, ordinances were passed to widen the city streets and build a water supply for fire prevention.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18740829-01.2.16 |title=Rebuilding Central City |date=1874-07-29|access-date=2025-06-05|publisher=The Rocky Mountain News}}</ref>

[[Gold mining]] in the Central City district decreased rapidly between 1900 and 1920, as the veins were exhausted. Mining revived in the early 1930s in response to the increase in the price of gold from $20 to $35 per ounce, but then virtually shut down during [[World War II]] when gold mining was declared nonessential to the war effort. The district was enlivened in the 1950s by efforts to locate [[uranium]] deposits, but these proved unsuccessful.<ref name="Sims">Paul K. Sims and others (1963) ''Economic Geology of the Central City District, Gilpin County, Colorado'', US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 359, pp.7–8.</ref>

The City of Central was reincorporated on June 12, 1886.

The population of Central City and its sister city Black Hawk fell to a few hundred by the 1950s. [[Casino]] gambling was introduced in both towns in the early 1990s, but had more success in Black Hawk (which has 18 casinos) than in Central City (which has 6 casinos), partly because the main road to Central City passed through Black Hawk, tempting gamblers to stop in Black Hawk instead. In an effort to compete, Central City completed a four-lane, {{convert|8.4|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Central City Parkway|parkway]] from [[Interstate 70]] to Central City, without going through Black Hawk.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central City Parkway |url=http://www.centralcityhighway.com/pdfs/onepagebrochure.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051220061326/http://www.centralcityhighway.com/pdfs/onepagebrochure.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2005 |access-date=August 15, 2005 |website=centralcityhighway.com}}</ref> The highway was completed in 2004, but Black Hawk, which prior to the introduction of gambling was much smaller than Central City, continues to generate more than seven times the gambling revenue that Central City does. To compete, Central City has recently eliminated height restrictions for building on undeveloped land. Buildings were previously limited to heights of {{convert|53|ft|m}}, so as not to overshadow the town's historic buildings.<ref>Andy Vuong, [https://www.denverpost.com/2009/06/30/eased-gambling-building-rules-give-central-city-second-chance/ "Eased gambling, building rules give Central City a second chance"], ''Denver Post'', July 1, 2009, p.1.</ref>

Tax from the gambling revenue provides funding for the State Historical Fund, administered by the [[Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation]].<ref>[https://www.historycolorado.org/state-historical-fund State Historical Fund], [[Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation|Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation]], [[Colorado Historical Society]], USA.</ref>
{{clear|left}}

==Geography==
Central City is located in southern Gilpin County. The city limits extend south along the Central City Parkway into Clear Creek County, as far as Interstate 70. The city is bordered by [[Black Hawk, Colorado|Black Hawk]] to the east and [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]] to the south.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|5.5940|km2|acre|0|order=flip}}, including {{convert|0.0003|km2|acre|2|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1860= 598
|1870= 2360
|1880= 2626
|1890= 2480
|1900= 3114
|1910= 1782
|1920= 552
|1930= 572
|1940= 706
|1950= 371
|1960= 250
|1970= 228
|1980= 329
|1990= 335
|2000= 515
|2010= 663
|2020= 779
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 515 people, 261 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|273.0|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 394 housing units at an average density of {{convert|208.8|/sqmi|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 91.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 2.52% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.32% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or Latino of any race.

There were 261 households, out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.3% were non-families. 43.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,921, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $25,446 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $26,465. About 7.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Central-City C&S-71 2012-10-19.JPG|thumb|right|[[Colorado and Southern Railway|C&S]] #71 made its last run up the canyon to [[Black Hawk, Colorado|Black Hawk]] on April 10, 1941.]]

* The [[Central City Opera House]], designed by Colorado architect Robert Saur Roeschlaub, continues to host entertainment during the summer.
* The [[Teller House]], with the painting ''[[The Face on the Barroom Floor (painting)|The Face on the Barroom Floor]]'' by Herndon Davis.

==Education==
Central City Public Schools are part of the [[Gilpin County School District RE-1]]. The district has one elementary school and one high school, Gilpin County Elementary School and [[Gilpin County Undivided High School]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.greatschools.org/colorado/black-hawk/|title= Black Hawk Schools|publisher= GreatSchools, Inc.|access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
The Black Hawk & Central City Tramway, operated by the cities of [[Black Hawk, Colorado|Black Hawk]] and Central City, provides a free shuttle between the two towns. Ramblin Express and [[All Aboard America!|Ace Express Coaches]] provides transportation from [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bus Routes to Black Hawk, CO |url=https://www.visitblackhawk.org/travel/bus-route |website=Visit Black Hawk}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[Central City Parkway]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Central City}}
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
*[https://centralcity.colorado.gov/ Central City official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018115739/http://www.centralcitycolorado.us/ |date=October 18, 2015 }}
*[http://www.narrowgauge.org/ngc/html/excursion6/excursion6-centralcity.html Early Photos of Central City]
*[https://www.legendsofamerica.com/CP-CentralCity.html Central City Boom and Bust]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051211063634/http://www.mainstreetcentral.org/ Main Street Central] - Central City's local merchants' association
*[https://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/central-city/ Central City Photos and Information at Western Mining History]
{{Gilpin County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Clear Creek County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Central City, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado Mining Boom]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Gambling localities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Gilpin County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]

Castle Rock, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:20:53Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Home-rule town in Douglas County, Colorado, USA}}
{{about|the city|the butte|Castle Rock (Colorado)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{infobox settlement
|name = Castle Rock, Colorado
|settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
|nickname =
|motto =

|image_skyline = Castle Rock, CO.jpg
|image_caption = Looking down Wilcox Street (2018)
|image_flag =
|image_seal =

|image_map = Douglas County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Castle Rock Highlighted 0812415.svg
|map_caption = Location within [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas County]] and [[Colorado]]

|pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief =
|pushpin_label = Castle Rock
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Castle Rock

|coordinates = {{coord|39.3722|-104.8561|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-169449|name=Castle Rock, Colorado|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=169449|name=Castle Rock, Colorado|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft = 6224
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>

|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule town]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 1874
|established_title1 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1 = April 14, 1881
|named_for =

|unit_pref = US
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 89.981
|area_land_km2 = 89.981
|area_water_km2 = 0.000
|area_total_sq_mi = 34.742
|area_land_sq_mi = 34.742
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.000

|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=February 9, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 9, 2024}}</ref>
|population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total = 73158
|population_density_km2 = 891.19
|population_density_sq_mi = 2308.19
|population_rank = US: 445th CO: [[List of municipalities in Colorado|14th]]
|population_urban = 2686147 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|18th]])
|population_metro = 2985871 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|19th]])
|population_blank1_title = [[Combined Statistical Area|Combined]]
|population_blank1 = 3663515 (US: [[Combined statistical area|18th]])
|population_blank2_title = [[Front Range urban corridor|Front Range]]
|population_blank2 = 5055344

|timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset = −07:00
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = −06:00

|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
|postal_code = 80104, 80108, 80109
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code = [[Area codes 303, 720, and 983|303/720/983]]
|blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info = {{GNIS 4|169449}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2413179}}
|blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|12415}}
|website = {{URL|https://www.crgov.com/|crgov.com}}
}}

'''Castle Rock''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most-populous municipality]] in [[Douglas County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Town Charter {{!}} Castle Rock, CO - Official Website |url=https://www.crgov.com/2507/Town-Charter |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=www.crgov.com}}</ref> The town’s population was 73,158 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Castle_Rock_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0812415 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref> a 51.68% increase since the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. Castle Rock is the most-populous Colorado town (rather than city) and the 14th-most populous Colorado municipality. Castle Rock is a part of the [[Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area|Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metropolitan statistical area]] and the [[Front Range urban corridor]].

The town is named for the [[Castle Rock (Colorado)|prominent, castle-shaped butte]] near the center of town.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=19|year=1954|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=13}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Rocky Mountain Views - Castle Rock.jpg|left|thumb|The Denver and Rio Grande Railway's Castle Rock depot (1917)]]

White settlers were drawn to the area by rumors of gold and by land opened through the [[Homestead Act of 1862]]. The discovery of [[rhyolite]] stone, though, not gold, ultimately led to the settlement of Castle Rock.

Castle Rock was founded in 1874 when the eastern Douglas County border was redrawn to its present location. Castle Rock was chosen as the county seat because of its central location.

One of the first homesteaders in the area near today's Castle Rock was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about {{convert|160|acre|km2}} to the south of "the (Castle) Rock". At that time, the settlement consisted of just a few buildings for prospectors, workers, and cowboys. In 1874, Gould donated {{convert|120|acre|km2}} to the new town, which was also now home to the Douglas County government. Six streets named Elbert, Jerry, Wilcox, Perry, Castle, and Front were laid out to build the actual town of Castle Rock. The courthouse square was defined and about 77 lots, each {{convert|50|by|112|ft|m|abbr=on}}, were auctioned off for a total profit of [[US$]]3,400.

A new train depot brought the [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad|Denver and Rio Grande Railway]] to the area.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Castle Rock had a very active rhyolite-quarrying industry. Many immigrants arrived in the area to work in the quarries.

In 1936, the town received a donation of land that included its namesake geographical feature. Men employed by the [[Works Progress Administration]] constructed a star atop the butte shortly after Castle Rock received that donation. The star was lit every year from 1936 to 1941. After World War II began, the star was left unlit as a symbol of sacrifice in support of the war effort. On August 14, 1945, shortly after [[Victory over Japan Day|V-J Day]], the star was modified into a V-for-victory symbol. On December 7, 1945, the star was lit for the holiday season. It has been lit every year since around the same time.

The town's historic county courthouse, which was built in 1889–1890, burned down on March 11, 1978, the result of arson.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dage-Ruby |first1=Susan |title=Memories of a nighttime blaze: Courthouse fire marked end of era |url=https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/stories/memories-of-a-nighttime-blaze-courthouse-fire-marked-end-of-era,127147? |access-date=February 8, 2020 |publisher=Colorado Community Media |date=March 8, 2003}}</ref>

Castle Rock's municipal government experienced significant financial difficulties during the early 1980s. In 1984, the town's voters approved a charter amendment that authorized the creation of a [[Home rule in the United States|home-rule]] charter commission. The home-rule charter was finalized in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charter Commission – Certificate of Final Adoption |url=https://library.municode.com/co/castle_rock/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=CHTOCAROCO_CHTR_COMMISSIONCEFIAD |website=Town of Castle Rock |access-date=February 8, 2020}}</ref>

The original Douglas County courthouse was one of seven buildings in Castle Rock that have been added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The other buildings include [[Castle Rock Depot]], Castle Rock Elementary School, First National Bank of Douglas County, Samuel Dyer House, Benjamin Hammer House, and Keystone Hotel.

A dispute about whether the Castle Rock Police Department was required to enforce a civil restraining order was decided by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] in 2005. The court held, in ''[[Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales]]'', that a municipality cannot be held liable under a federal civil-rights statute, [[Third Enforcement Act|42 U.S.C. § 1983]], for failing to enforce civil restraining orders. The case had arisen from a 1999 murder of three young girls by their father outside the Castle Rock Police Department building. The children were killed by their father, in violation of the restraining order that had been obtained by their mother, within several hours of being abducted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenworthy |first1=Tom |title=3 Children Dead in Gunman's Truck |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/06/24/3-children-dead-in-gunmans-truck/fef5c242-feee-461c-881a-e83700fe870b/ |access-date=February 8, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 24, 1999}}</ref> The mother had asked the Castle Rock police to enforce the restraining order by finding and apprehending the father after he removed the children from her home and before the murders. Castle Rock police officers declined to do so, refusing even to contact the Denver Police Department after the mother notified them that the father had taken the children to an amusement park in that city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greenhouse |first1=Linda |title=Justices Rule Police Do Not Have a Constitutional Duty to Protect Someone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/justices-rule-police-do-not-have-a-constitutional-duty-to-protect.html |website=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2005 |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Castle Rock butte in Castle Rock Colorado.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The town of Castle Rock is named after this prominent castle tower-shaped butte.]]
Castle Rock is located at {{Coord|39|22|20|N|104|51|22|W|type:city}} (39.372212, −104.856090) at an elevation of 6,224 feet (1,897 m).<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212191832/http://geonames.usgs.gov/|archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> Castle Rock is in central Colorado at the junction of [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|Interstate 25]] and [[State Highway 86 (Colorado)|State Highway 86]], {{convert|28|mi|abbr=on}} south of downtown Denver and {{convert|37|mi|abbr=on}} north of Colorado Springs.<ref name="City Distance Tool">{{cite web |title=City Distance Tool |publisher=[[Geobytes]] |url=http://www.geobytes.com/citydistancetool.htm |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005175701/http://geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref>

The town lies a few miles east of the [[Rampart Range]] of the [[Rocky Mountains]] on the western edge of the [[Great Plains]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Physiographic provinces of Colorado |publisher=Colorado Geological Survey |url=http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/Physiographic.aspx |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524151250/http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/Physiographic.aspx |archive-date=May 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Map of Major Topographic Features in Colorado |publisher=Colorado Geological Survey |url=http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/TopographicFeatures.aspx |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221737/http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/TopographicFeatures.aspx |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Castle Rock, the butte for which the town is named, is just north of the town center.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Castle Rock |publisher=Town of Castle Rock, Colorado |url=http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=680 |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222332/http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=680 |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Other prominent landforms visible from Castle Rock include [[Dawson Butte]], [[Devils Head (summit)|Devils Head]], [[Mount Blue Sky]], and [[Pikes Peak]].

East Plum Creek, a stream within the [[South Platte River]] watershed, flows generally north through Castle Rock. Hangman's Gulch, which runs northwest then west around the north side of the town center, drains into East Plum Creek, as do multiple unnamed gulches in the southern and western areas of town. McMurdo Gulch and Mitchell Gulch run north then northeast through eastern Castle Rock and drain into [[Cherry Creek (Colorado)|Cherry Creek]] east of town.<ref name=CDOT>{{cite web |title=Castle Rock (map) |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |date=September 11, 2012 |url=http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Castle%20Rock.pdf |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000419/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Castle%20Rock.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>

Castle Rock is in the Colorado Foothills life zone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Interactive_Diagram_Elevation.html|title=Life Zones Interactive Diagram|website=shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909094819/http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Interactive_Diagram_Elevation.html|archive-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref> The hillsides are covered with meadows of grass, small plants, scattered juniper trees, and open [[ponderosa pine]] woodlands. Other trees common in the area include [[Gambel oak]] (scrub oak or oak brush) and [[pinyon pine]]. Local wildlife includes the [[American badger]], [[American black bear]], [[bobcat]], [[coyote]], [[Colorado chipmunk]], [[crow]], [[garter snakes]], [[gray fox]], mountain [[cottontail rabbit]], [[mountain lion]], [[mule deer]], [[pocket gopher]], [[porcupine]], [[skunk]], and [[tadpoles]]. Birds found in the area include the [[golden eagle]], [[peregrine falcon]], [[sharp-shinned hawk]], [[black-billed magpie]], [[red-tailed hawk]], [[pinyon jay]], and [[western tanager]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Foothills.htm|title=Foothills Life Zones General Information|website=shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917120615/http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Foothills.htm|archive-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>

The town had a total area of {{convert|89.981|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all land in 2023.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

Lying within the [[Front Range urban corridor]], the town is part of the greater [[Denver–Aurora–Boulder Combined Statistical Area|Denver metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite web|title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01 |date=February 28, 2013 |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113057/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[Office of Management and Budget]] |archive-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> Castle Rock borders three communities, all to its north; from west to east, they are [[Castle Pines Village, Colorado|Castle Pines Village]], the city of [[Castle Pines, Colorado|Castle Pines]], and [[The Pinery, Colorado|The Pinery]].<ref name=CensusMap>{{cite web |title=Colorado: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |date=August 1, 2012 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-7.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109081313/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-7.pdf |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CountyMap>{{cite web |title=Douglas County [Map] |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |date=July 30, 2012 |url=http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CountyMaps/DOUGLAS.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927185122/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CountyMaps/Douglas.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> Other nearby communities include [[Franktown, Colorado|Franktown]] to the east, [[Larkspur, Colorado|Larkspur]] to the south, [[Perry Park, Colorado|Perry Park]] to the southwest, and [[Sedalia, Colorado|Sedalia]] to the northwest.<ref name=CensusMap />

===Climate===
Castle Rock has a [[semiarid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with cold, dry, snowy winters, and hot, wetter summers. January is the coldest month, July the hottest, and August the month with the most precipitation.

{{Weather box
|location = Castle Rock, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 73
|Feb record high F = 75
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 82

|Jan avg record high F = 64.5
|Feb avg record high F = 64.6
|Mar avg record high F = 72.8
|Apr avg record high F = 77.7
|May avg record high F = 84.9
|Jun avg record high F = 92.7
|Jul avg record high F = 95.3
|Aug avg record high F = 92.8
|Sep avg record high F = 89.6
|Oct avg record high F = 82.1
|Nov avg record high F = 72.8
|Dec avg record high F = 65.3
|year avg record high F = 96.1

|Jan high F = 45.6
|Feb high F = 46.7
|Mar high F = 53.8
|Apr high F = 59.1
|May high F = 68.4
|Jun high F = 80.2
|Jul high F = 85.7
|Aug high F = 83.6
|Sep high F = 76.7
|Oct high F = 64.8
|Nov high F = 53.9
|Dec high F = 45.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.8
|Feb mean F = 33.3
|Mar mean F = 40.2
|Apr mean F = 45.8
|May mean F = 55.0
|Jun mean F = 65.3
|Jul mean F = 71.1
|Aug mean F = 69.1
|Sep mean F = 61.7
|Oct mean F = 49.7
|Nov mean F = 39.8
|Dec mean F = 31.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 18.0
|Feb low F = 19.9
|Mar low F = 26.5
|Apr low F = 32.5
|May low F = 41.6
|Jun low F = 50.5
|Jul low F = 56.4
|Aug low F = 54.7
|Sep low F = 46.6
|Oct low F = 34.6
|Nov low F = 25.7
|Dec low F = 18.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -4.0
|Feb avg record low F = -3.4
|Mar avg record low F = 6.6
|Apr avg record low F = 15.7
|May avg record low F = 27.2
|Jun avg record low F = 38.5
|Jul avg record low F = 48.2
|Aug avg record low F = 45.6
|Sep avg record low F = 32.1
|Oct avg record low F = 16.7
|Nov avg record low F = 3.6
|Dec avg record low F = -3.0
|year avg record low F = -9.5

|Jan record low F = -37
|Feb record low F = -32
|Mar record low F = -20
|Apr record low F = -8
|May record low F = 7
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 30
|Aug record low F = 34
|Sep record low F = 11
|Oct record low F = -5
|Nov record low F = -18
|Dec record low F = -29

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.55
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.70
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.54
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.08
|May precipitation inch = 1.97
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.20
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.32
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.52
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.39
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.85
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.79
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.69
|year precipitation inch = 17.60

|Jan snow inch = 8.0
|Feb snow inch = 10.7
|Mar snow inch = 10.7
|Apr snow inch = 8.3
|May snow inch = 1.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.4
|Oct snow inch = 2.7
|Nov snow inch = 6.7
|Dec snow inch = 8.9
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.1
|Feb precipitation days = 4.9
|Mar precipitation days = 5.0
|Apr precipitation days = 6.4
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 7.7
|Jul precipitation days = 8.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 4.4
|Nov precipitation days = 4.1
|Dec precipitation days = 4.6

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.6
|Feb snow days = 4.1
|Mar snow days = 3.3
|Apr snow days = 3.1
|May snow days = 0.6
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.3
|Oct snow days = 1.0
|Nov snow days = 2.7
|Dec snow days = 4.3
|year snow days = 23.0

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00051401&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

Statewide, Colorado has experienced an average temperature increase of about {{convert|2.5|F-change}} over the past half-century.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lukas |first1=Jeff |title=Climate Change in Colorado: A Synthesis to Support Water Resources Management and Adaptation (2d ed., 2014) |url=https://wwa.colorado.edu/climate/co2014report/Climate_Change_CO_Report_2014_FINAL.pdf |website=wwa.colorado.edu |publisher=University of Colorado Boulder |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> Given its location in the center of the state, Castle Rock is expected to experience continuing warming and higher average temperatures through the 21st century, as the effects of climate change continue to be felt. Daily minimum temperatures are also expected to continue rising, as they have for the past 30 years.

===Neighborhoods===
Castle Rock's ZIP codes include many neighborhoods:

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''North of Downtown / West of I-25'''
* [[The Meadows, Castle Rock, Colorado|The Meadows]]
* [[Castle Pines Village]]
{{col-break}}
{{col-end}}

Castle Rock encompasses about {{convert|35|sqmi|km2}}, with a population of more than 73,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crgov.com|title=Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|work=crgov.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202040334/http://www.crgov.com/|archive-date=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 88
| 1890 = 315
| 1900 = 304
| 1910 = 365
| 1920 = 461
| 1930 = 478
| 1940 = 580
| 1950 = 741
| 1960 = 1152
| 1970 = 1531
| 1980 = 3921
| 1990 = 8708
| 2000 = 20224
| 2010 = 48231
| 2020 = 73158
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 83213
| estref = <ref name="US Census Bureau City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024">{{cite web | url= https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html#v2024| title=US Census Bureau City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> 2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], 48,231 people, 16,688 households, and 12,974 families were residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,526.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 17,626 housing units had an average density of {{convert|557.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 90.7% [[White American|White]], 1.7% [[Asian American|Asian]], 1.1% [[African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander]], 2.9% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics and Latinos]] of any race were 10.0% of the population.

Of the 16,688 households, 48.4% had children under 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were not families. About 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86, and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town, the age distribution was 32.4% under 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males 18 and over.

The median income for a household in the town was $85,461, and for a family was $95,973. Males had a median income of $66,993 versus $47,087 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $34,089. About 4.0% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.2% of those under 18 and 6.2% of those 65 or over.

Castle Rock is the [[Colorado municipalities by population|16th-most populous municipality]] in Colorado and is the center of the burgeoning [[urbanization]] of the county.
{{clear|left}}

==Economy==
Because of its Front Range location between Denver and its inner suburbs and Colorado Springs, many of Castle Rock's residents commute nearly 40 miles to southern [[Colorado Springs]] on [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|I-25]] or the [[Denver Technological Center]], better known as the Denver Tech Center, which is an 18-mile drive north, with downtown [[Denver]] roughly 30 miles north, and [[Denver International Airport]] about 45 miles north.

About 80% of Castle Rock residents commute out of town to work.<ref name="Denver Post">{{cite web |last1=Rubino |first1=Joe |title=As Castle Rock looks to evolve beyond a bedroom community, the old town dump will be key |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/06/13/castle-rock-douglas-county-growth/ |website=Denver Post |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> The average one-way commute time for a Castle Rock resident is about 29 minutes, longer than the U.S. average.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commuting in Castle Rock, Colorado |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/transportation/city/colorado/castle_rock |website=Castle Rock, Colorado |publisher=Sperling's Best Places |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> One reason for this is that the town has not yet attracted the variety or extent of employers needed to significantly lower the number of commuters to work outside Castle Rock. The town has relatively little land zoned for industrial or light industrial use, with the vast majority of the land within town limits dedicated to residential construction only.<ref>{{cite web |title=Future Land Use Plan |url=http://www.crgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/12776/Future_Land_Use_Plan |website=Town of Castle Rock, Colorado |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref>

As of 2011, 78.2% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force, 0.4% was in the armed forces, and 77.7% was in the civilian labor force, with 72.6% employed and 5.1% unemployed. The employed civilian labor force was 48.0% in management, business, science, and arts; 25.8% in sales and office occupations; 14.7% in service occupations; 6.4% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; and 5.2% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest proportion of the working civilian labor force were educational services, health care, and social assistance (15.5%); professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (13.2%); and finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (12.6%).

Castle Rock's cost of living is above average. Compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the town is 137.2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cost of Living in Castle Rock, Colorado |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/castle_rock |website=Castle Rock, Colorado |publisher=Sperling's Best Places |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref>

As of mid-2019, the median home value in the town was $427,537.<ref name="Denver Post"/> The median gross monthly rent for an apartment was about $1,461.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Castle Rock town, Colorado|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/castlerocktowncolorado}}</ref>

The town's housing base continues to grow. About 1,400 permits to build new homes were issued in 2018.<ref name="Denver Post"/>

==Government and politics==
[[Image:Castle Rock, CO, Town Hall IMG 5204.JPG|thumb|200px|Castle Rock Town Hall (2010)]]
Castle Rock is a [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home-rule municipality]] with a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. The town's governing body is the town council, made up of seven members including the mayor and mayor pro-tem.<ref name="crgov.com">{{Cite web|url=https://crgov.com/1936/Town-Council|title=Town Council {{!}} Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|website=crgov.com|access-date=September 4, 2019}}</ref> Each councilmember is elected to represent an election district, and the mayor is elected to represent the town at large.<ref name="crgov.com"/> One member, appointed by the council, serves as the mayor pro-tem.<ref name="Municode Library">{{Cite web|url=https://library.municode.com/co/castle_rock/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=CHTOCAROCO_ARTIITOCO_S2-5MA|title=Municode Library|website=library.municode.com|access-date=September 4, 2019}}</ref> Castle Rock voters approved a change to the town charter that authorized an at-large mayor in 2017.

The mayor presides over council meetings and casts one vote, like other councilmembers.<ref name="Municode Library"/> The council sets policy for the town, adopts ordinances, approves the town budget, makes major land-use decisions, and appoints key town government staff, including the [[city manager|town manager]], [[city attorney|town attorney]], municipal judge, and members of town boards and commissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Town Government |publisher=Town of Castle Rock |url=http://crgov.com/ |access-date=April 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414224849/http://www.crgov.com/ |archive-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

The town manager supervises all departments, prepares and implements the town budget, and works with the council to develop policies and propose new plans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Town Manager's Office |publisher=Town of Castle Rock |url=http://www.crgov.com/1939/Town-Manager |access-date=April 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417215657/http://crgov.com/1939/Town-Manager |archive-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref>

Tax revenues are used to provide general government, fire, police, parks maintenance and programs, street maintenance and operations, support for recreation, and planning and code enforcement services. The town also provides development services, golf, water, and sewer services to residents through self-supporting enterprise funds. The average annual municipal property tax bill of a Castle Rock resident is $40.66.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your Tax Dollars at Work |url=https://www.crgov.com/1979/Property-Tax-Calculator |website=Town of Castle Rock, Colorado |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> That is in addition to property taxes assessed by Douglas County and other entities.

As the [[county seat]], Castle Rock is the administrative center of Douglas County. The county courthouse, the Douglas County Justice Center, is north of downtown, and most departments of the county government base their operations in the town.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Locations |publisher=Douglas County Government |url=http://www.douglas.co.us/government/our-locations/ |access-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027185320/http://www.douglas.co.us/government/our-locations/ |archive-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Departments |publisher=Douglas County Government |url=http://www.douglas.co.us/government/departments/ |access-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027212609/http://www.douglas.co.us/government/departments/ |archive-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref>

{{As of|2013}}, Castle Rock lies within [[Colorado's 4th congressional district|Colorado's 4th U.S. Congressional District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Colorado - Congressional Districts |work=The National Atlas of the United States of America |publisher=[[U.S. Geological Survey]] |url=http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd113_co.pdf |access-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201947/http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd113_co.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> The town is in the 4th district of the [[Colorado Senate]] and the 45th district of the [[Colorado House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Colorado Webmaps - My Neighborhood |publisher=[[Government of Colorado]] |url=http://www.colorado.gov/esri/webmaps/my-hood.html |access-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103025731/http://www.colorado.gov/esri/webmaps/my-hood.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref>

Castle Rock is the county seat of Douglas County, a Republican stronghold in Colorado.

==Education==

===Primary and secondary education===
[[Douglas County School District RE-1|Douglas County School District]], based in Castle Rock, operates 18 [[Public school (government funded)#United States|public schools]] in the town. These include 10 elementary schools, two middle schools, two charter schools, one magnet school, one [[Alternative school#United States|alternative high school]], and two high schools: [[Castle View High School]] and [[Douglas County High School (Castle Rock, Colorado)|Douglas County High School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=School Choice Selector |publisher=[[Douglas County School District]] |url=https://www.dcsdk12.org/schools/SchoolSelector/index.htm?SearchBy=City&City=Castle_Rock |access-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020131805/https://www.dcsdk12.org/schools/SchoolSelector/index.htm?SearchBy=City&City=Castle_Rock |archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref> In addition, there are three private primary schools in Castle Rock.<ref>{{cite web | title = Private Schools in Castle Rock | publisher = Greatschools | url = http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/castle-rock/schools/?st=private | access-date=October 19, 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020203428/http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/castle-rock/schools/?st=private | archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref>

School-board elections in Douglas County are held in odd-numbered years. In recent years, the community has experienced a spirited debate between supporters of significant change in the management of local schools and those who oppose such changes or believe they should advance at a slower pace.

===Libraries===
The [[Douglas County Libraries]] public library system is based in Castle Rock, co-located with the local branch library, the Philip S. Miller Library, south of downtown. The Miller Library includes archives and local history and offers several educational and recreational programs to the public.<ref>{{cite web|title=Philip S. Miller Library |publisher=[[Douglas County Libraries]] |url=http://douglascountylibraries.org/Locations/PhilipSMillerLibrary |access-date=October 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195436/http://douglascountylibraries.org/Locations/PhilipSMillerLibrary |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Also, it includes [[Little Free Library]] places scattered throughout, such as in the festival park.{{Citation Needed|date=May 2025}}

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[Interstate 25]] and [[U.S. Route 87]] run concurrently north-south through Castle Rock. [[U.S. Route 85]], also a north-south route, enters the town from the northwest, meeting I-25 at Exit 184; south of the exit, it runs concurrently with I-25 and U.S. 87. [[State Highway 86 (Colorado)|Colorado State Highway 86]], an east-west route, enters Castle Rock from the east, then turns north and west as Founders Parkway, terminating at its junction with I-25 at Exit 184.<ref name=GoogleMaps>{{cite web | title = Castle Rock, CO | publisher = [[Google Maps]] | url = https://www.google.com/maps?q=Castle+Rock,+CO&hl=en&ll=39.390571,-104.834633&spn=0.086366,0.198269&sll=38.00482,-81.518555&sspn=5.634343,16.875&hnear=Castle+Rock,+Douglas,+Colorado&t=m&z=13 | access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

For local transportation within Castle Rock, the town government sponsors a [[voucher]] program for reduced-fare taxi service. This service is available to town residents who are disabled or who do not have access to a vehicle. In addition, the Castle Rock Senior Center offers a shuttle service for resident senior citizens.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Transportation |publisher=Town of Castle Rock |url=http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?NID=1251 |access-date=November 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214155359/http://crgov.com/index.aspx?NID=1251 |archive-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref>

Castle Rock does not participate in the Denver metropolitan area's [[Regional Transportation District]]. Municipal voters decided in November 2005 to opt the town out of the district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transportation Master Plan |url=https://www.crgov.com/1840/Transportation-Master-Plan |website=crgov.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> As a result, neither bus nor light-rail service to Denver or any of its other suburbs is available from Castle Rock.

[[BNSF Railway]] and [[Union Pacific Railroad]] each have a freight rail line that runs through Castle Rock.<ref>{{cite web | title = Colorado Statewide Rail System 2012 [Map] | publisher = [[Colorado Department of Transportation]] | url = http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/StatewideMaps/RailSystem.pdf | access-date=November 20, 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131204103835/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/StatewideMaps/RailSystem.pdf |archive-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Both lines run parallel to U.S. 85.<ref name=CDOT/>

===Utilities and water===
CORE Electric Cooperative, based in nearby Sedalia, provides electric power. [[Black Hills Energy]] provides natural-gas service. [[Waste Management, Inc|Waste Management]] and other businesses provide trash removal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Utilities/Services |publisher=Town of Castle Rock |url=http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?NID=528 |access-date=November 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006025749/http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?NID=528 |archive-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref>

The town government's Utilities Department oversees water provision, distribution, and infrastructure maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Utilities/Castle Rock Water |publisher=Town of Castle Rock |url=http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=68 |access-date=November 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908154408/http://crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=68 |archive-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref> Historically, nearly all of the water needed by Castle Rock residents was pumped from aquifers below the ground, including the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070714033846/http://geosurvey.state.co.us/wateratlas/chapter6_1page2.asp Denver Basin aquifer]. Beginning in 2013, when the town developed its first strategic plan for the management of water, Castle Rock has moved toward more use of surface water. Between 2006 and 2018, daily per capita water use in Castle Rock declined from 137 gallons to 115 gallons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Know Your Water |url=https://www.crconserve.com/31/Know-Your-Water |website=crconserve.com}}</ref>

Starting in 2020, Castle Rock expected to begin treating sink, tap, and toilet water to potable water quality standards so that it can be reused.<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Rock to implement 'toilet to tap' surface water treatment system |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/our-colorado/castle-rock-to-implement-toilet-to-tap-surface-water-treatment-system |website=thedenverchannel.com |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> The town aimed to achieve a goal of reliance upon renewable water resources for 75% of municipal needs by 2050 and, by 2020, about one-third of all water used in Castle Rock was expected to be from a reusable source.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gibbs |first1=Jessica |title=Castle Rock preparing to turn wastewater into drinking water |url=https://castlerocknewspress.net/stories/castle-rock-preparing-to-turn-wastewater-into-drinking-water,279529 |website=castlerocknewspress.net |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>

As of July 2019 Castle Rock, Denver, and Pitkin County are the first three Colorado municipal or county governments to adopt a state [https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=6527&fileName=5%20CCR%201002-86 regulation] governing [[greywater]] reuse.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sakas |first1=Michael Elizabeth |title='Greywater' Could Help Solve Colorado's Water Problems. Why Aren't We All Using It? |url=https://www.cpr.org/2019/07/15/as-colorados-water-future-looks-ever-more-scarce-greywater-catches-on-in-spite-of-legal-hurdles/ |website=cpr.org |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>

===Health care===
[[AdventHealth Castle Rock]] is the only hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/adventhealth-bring-first-cancer-treatment-center-castle-rock/|title=AdventHealth to bring first cancer treatment center to Colorado town of Castle Rock|last=Young|first=Olivia|date=June 22, 2024|website=[[CBS Colorado]]|access-date=July 16, 2025}}</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|Media in Denver}}
Founded in 1895, Castle Rock News-Press is the only [[newspaper]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepaperboy.com/newspaper.cfm?PaperID=-1412957455|title=Castle Rock News Press|website=Paperboy|access-date=July 17, 2025}}</ref>
Castle Rock is part of the Denver radio and television market. [[Radio station]] [[KJMN]] is [[city of license|licensed]] to Castle Rock, but broadcasts from Denver playing a [[Spanish language|Spanish]] [[adult hits]] format on 92.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Station Information Profile | publisher = [[Arbitron]] | url = http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm | access-date=October 7, 2009 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060319201903/http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm | archive-date=March 19, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Contacto |publisher=Entravision Communications Corporation |url=http://www.denverse.com/contact.php |access-date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424072120/http://www.denverse.com/contact.php |archive-date=April 24, 2009}}</ref> Denver radio station [[KOA (AM)|850 KOA]], which broadcasts a [[news/talk]] and sports format, operates its 50,000-watt transmitter from a site 10 miles northeast of downtown Castle Rock, in the town of [[Parker, Colorado|Parker]]. Another Denver station, [[KAMP (AM)|KAMP]] (1430 AM), a [[CBS Sports Radio]] affiliate with a [[sports radio]] format, operates its transmitter from Highlands Ranch, 13 miles north of downtown Castle Rock.

[[NPR]] programming can be heard on [[Colorado Public Radio|Colorado Public Radio's]] [[KCFR-FM]]. Castle Rock is also served by the AM signal of [[KGNU]], a noncommercial affiliate of [[Public Radio International|PRI]], [[Pacifica Radio|Pacifica]], and the [[BBC World Service]], and which also provides diverse music programming.

[[Television station]] [[KETD]], an affiliate of the [[Estrella TV]] network, broadcasts on digital channel 46. Licensed to Castle Rock, the station is located near [[Centennial, Colorado]].<ref>{{cite web | title = TVQ TV Database Query | publisher = [[Federal Communications Commission]] | url = http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/tvq.html | access-date=October 7, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090508022231/http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/tvq.html | archive-date=May 8, 2009}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
Castle Rock's [[Open space reserve|open space]] and parks comprise 27% the town's total land area ({{convert|5415|acre|km2}} of parks and open space / {{convert|20224|acre|km2}} total land area). Additionally, there are nearly {{convert|75|mi|km}} of soft-surface and paved trails.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crgov.com/1673/Parks-and-Recreation|title=Parks and Recreation - Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|website=www.crgov.com|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027212833/http://www.crgov.com/1673/Parks-and-Recreation|archive-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[Image:Castle Rock, CO, Museum IMG 5199.JPG|200px|thumb|[[Castle Rock Museum]] (2010)]]

===Points of interest===
Philip S. Miller Park is the largest park project in Castle Rock. "Phase One" of the park was opened to the public on October 25, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crgov.com/2051/Philip-S-Miller-Park|title=Philip S. Miller Park - Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|website=www.crgov.com|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109121943/http://www.crgov.com/2051/Philip-S-Miller-Park|archive-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> The park is named after a local banker and philanthropist, who with his wife Jerry, left trust monies to Castle Rock in the mid-1990s. The Phillip S. Miller Activity Center is included in the park's 300 acres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://co-castlerock2.civicplus.com/2049/Miller-Activity-Complex-MAC|title=Miller Activity Complex (MAC) - Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|website=co-castlerock2.civicplus.com|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref>

The Castle Rock Historical Museum is in the former [[Castle Rock Depot|Denver and Rio Grande Railway depot building]] on Elbert Street. This building is purported to have been built in 1875. It is made of rhyolite taken from local quarries. The museum depicts how Castle Rock has changed over the years.

===Sports===
From 1986 through 2006, a professional golf tournament was held in [[Castle Pines Village]]. [[The International (golf)|The International]], a [[PGA Tour]] event, was held in August at the Castle Pines Golf Club.

===Events===
====Castle Rock star lighting====
Since 1936, every Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Town of Castle Rock lights the {{convert|45|ft|m|adj=on}} electric star upon Castle Rock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.douglascountyhistory.org/digital/collection/documents/id/73|title=History of the Castle Rock Star|website=www.douglascountyhistory.org|language=en|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> A lighting event is held downtown that night and is usually accompanied by a fireworks display. The star remains lit from the week before Thanksgiving to the end of the National Western Stock Show in January. This has changed multiple times; following World War II, it was changed to a V, also, the same year as the [[Denver Broncos]] being in the Super Bowl, it was changed to orange and blue. Throughout part of the lockdown in early 2020 due to COVID-19, the star was relit as a symbol of unity.

==Notable people==
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Castle Rock include:
* [[Amy Adams]] (born 1974), actress<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography for Amy Adams |publisher=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/bio |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154218/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/bio |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Kirsten Bomblies]] (born 1973), biologist<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography of Artist Kirsten Bomblies |publisher=Artists for Conservation |url=http://www.natureartists.com/artists/artist_biography.asp?ArtistID=322 |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604171838/http://www.natureartists.com/artists/artist_biography.asp?ArtistID=322 |archive-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kat Cammack]] - United States Representative for Florida's 3rd Congressional District
* [[Jim Cottrell]] (born 1983), [[NFL]] [[linebacker]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy Cottrell Profile |publisher=[[Scout.com]] |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2161045 |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405102201/http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2161045 |archive-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy Cottrell, LB |publisher=[[National Football League]] |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/jimmycottrell/2506841/profile |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014214959/http://www.nfl.com/player/jimmycottrell/2506841/profile |archive-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Gary Hallberg]] (born 1958), professional [[golf]]er<ref>{{cite news |last=Hanley |first=Reid |title=Sports Psychologist Helps Hallberg Stay Focused On Task At Hand |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/06/21/sports-psychologist-helps-hallberg-stay-focused-on-task-at-hand/ |access-date=September 29, 2011 |date=June 21, 1992 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110929065856/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-06-21/sports/9202250162_1_barrington-green-gary-hallberg |archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Beth Malone]] (born 1969), actress<ref>{{cite web |title=bio – beth malone |publisher=[[Weebly]] |url=http://bethmalone.weebly.com/bio.html |access-date=June 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501232454/http://bethmalone.weebly.com/bio.html |archive-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Christian McCaffrey]] (born 1996), professional [[American football|football]] player (running back)
* [[Max McCaffrey]] (born 1994), professional football player (wide receiver)
* [[Joe Oltmann]], political activist and conspiracy theorist
* [[Will Owen (racing driver)|Will Owen]] (born 1995), racing driver
* [[Nelson Rangell]] (born 1960), jazz musician<ref>Miller, Ken. (2007). ''Nelson Rangell – Interview Cafe'' (Video-recording), Time: 4:13</ref>
* [[Edward Seidensticker]] (1921–2007), [[Japanese studies|Japanologist]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Margalit |title=Edward Seidensticker, Translator, Is Dead at 86 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 31, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/31/arts/31seidensticker.html |access-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>
* {{annotated link|Emma Shinn}}<ref name="Westword">{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Ana |title=Castle Rock Transgender Marine: People May Die From President Trump's Tweets |url=https://www.westword.com/news/castle-rock-transgender-marine-reflects-on-donald-trumps-ban-9300570 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |publisher=Westword |date=July 27, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Ann Strother]] (born 1983), [[WNBA]] player, coach<ref>{{cite web |title=Ann Strother |work=UConn Hoop Legends |publisher=[[University of Connecticut]] |url=http://www.uconnhooplegends.com/womensledgends/StrotherAnn.html |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510123016/http://www.uconnhooplegends.com/womensledgends/StrotherAnn.html |archive-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
File:Pikes Peak as seen from Castle Rock CO.JPG|View of [[Pikes Peak]] from Rock Park in Castle Rock
File:Devils Head taken from Ridgeline Open Space.JPG|View of [[Devil's Head Lookout]] from [[Ridgeline Open Space]] in Castle Rock
File:Mount Evans as seen from Castle Rock CO.JPG|View of [[Mount Blue Sky]] from Rock Park in Castle Rock
File:Rock Park in Castle Rock CO.JPG|View from Rock Park Lookout Area in Castle Rock
File:Pikes Peak taken from I-25 in Castle Rock CO.jpg|View of [[Pikes Peak]] from [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|I-25]] in Castle Rock
File:The Meadows in Castle Rock Colorado taken from Daniels Park.jpg|View of [[The Meadows, Castle Rock, Colorado|The Meadows]] neighborhood taken from Daniels Park
File:Castlerockco.JPG|Castle Rock as seen from [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|I-25]]
File:Trail at Rock Park, Castle Rock, CO IMG 5207.JPG|Hiking trail at Rock Park in Castle Rock
</gallery>
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
* [http://www.crgov.com/ Town of Castle Rock website]
* [http://www.visitcastlerock.org/ Visit Castle Rock]

{{Douglas County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Castle Rock, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Douglas County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Colorado Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]

Cañon City, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:20:18Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Home-rule city in Fremont County, Colorado, USA}}
{{redirect|Cañon City|other uses|Canyon City (disambiguation){{!}}Canyon City}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{infobox settlement
| name = Cañon City, Colorado
| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home Rule City]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
| nicknames = Climate Capital of Colorado
| motto = Gateway to the Authentic West
| image_skyline = ChrisLitherlandCanonCity.jpg
| image_caption = Downtown Cañon City, 2010
| image_flag =
| flag_size = 150px
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_map = Fremont County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Cañon City Highlighted 0811810.svg
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location of the City of Cañon City in {{nowrap|[[Fremont County, Colorado]].}}
| pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label = Cañon City
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the City of Cañon City, Colorado.
| coordinates = {{coord|38.4410|-105.2424|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-191867|name=Cañon City, Colorado|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=191867|name=Cañon City, Colorado|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
| elevation_ft = 5351
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun />
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Preston Troutman(R) {{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1860
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = April 3, 1872<ref name="MuniIncCO">{{cite web |url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=Colorado Municipal Incorporations |publisher=[[State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives |date=December 1, 2004 |access-date=September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| unit_pref = US
| total_type = Total
| area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 32.127
| area_land_km2 = 32.095
| area_water_km2 = 0.032
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total = 17,141
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,383
| population_metro = 48,939
| population_blank1_title = [[Pueblo-Cañon City, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank1 = 217,101
| population_blank2_title = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
| population_blank2 = 5,055,344
| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset = −07:00
| timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −06:00
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
| postal_code = 81212, 81215 ([[PO Box]])
| area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code = [[Area code 719|719]]
| blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
| blank_info = {{GNIS 4|191867}}
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS city ID]]
| blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2409976}}
| blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|11810}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.canoncity.org/}}
| footnotes =
| blank1_name_sec2 = Major Routes
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[File:US_50.svg|26px|link=U.S. Route 50 in Colorado]] [[File:Colorado_115.svg|26px|link=Colorado State Highway 115]]
}}

'''Cañon City''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|n|j|ən}} {{respell|KAN|yən}})<ref>{{cite AV media |date= January 8, 2024|title= New details released in Cañon City manhunt|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze-LW5Pfteg&ab_channel=KOAA5 |publisher=KOAA5|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 2, 2024 |time= 00:04}}</ref> is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Fremont County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city population was 17,141 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Cañon City is the principal city of the [[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and is a part of the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]]. Cañon City straddles the easterly flowing [[Arkansas River]] and is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing, [[rafting|whitewater rafting]], and rock climbing. The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths.<ref name=privatecorrections57>{{cite journal| last1=Welch| first1=Michael| last2=Turner| first2=Fatiniyah| title=Private Corrections, Financial Infrastructure, and Transportation: The New Geo-Economy of Shipping Prisoners| journal=Social Justice| date=2007| volume=34| issue=3| page=57| jstor=29768464}}</ref> In 1994, the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] approved adding the [[tilde]] to the official name of Cañon City, a change from '''Canon City''' as the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|191867|Cañon City}}</ref> It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the Spanish [[Ñ]] in its name, others being [[La Cañada Flintridge, California]]; [[Española, New Mexico]]; [[Peñasco, New Mexico]]; and [[Peñitas, Texas]].

==History==
{{See also|Early history of Fremont County, Colorado}}
Cañon City was laid out on January 17, 1858, during the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]], but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. The Cañon City, Colorado, post office opened on December 13, 1860.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> The spelling of the town's name frequently omitted the [[tilde]] over the [[Ñ|Spanish letter ñ]]. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for [[mining]] in [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|South Park]] and the upper Arkansas River.<ref>"Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City ''Times'', November 10, 1860, p.4.</ref>
{{clear|left}}

===1860s to 1900===
[[File:Bird's eye view of Canon City, Colo. - DPLA - 3e4dfabc98a14673a333bd593a1047a5.jpg|thumb|left|Bird's eye view of dwellings, commercial and civic buildings between the Arkansas River and mountains in This drawing of Canon City, Colorado, 1882.]]
In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the [[2nd Colorado Infantry Regiment|Second Colorado Infantry]] during the [[American Civil War]]. This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearby [[New Mexico]] and as far east as the Indian Territory ([[Oklahoma]]) and [[Missouri]] before ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for [[petroleum]] {{convert|6|mi|0}} north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of {{convert|50|ft}}, and he completed the first commercial oil well west of the [[Mississippi River]]. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refined [[kerosene]] and fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products in [[Denver]].<ref>Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960), ''Historical summary'', in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.</ref>

Congress approved the Territory of Colorado's request for funds to construct a penitentiary in 1867. The [[Colorado State Penitentiary|Colorado Territorial Penitentiary]] opened in 1871, becoming Colorado's first prison. The original structure held 43 prisoners, though the number of incarcerated people increased steadily to over 400 people by the turn of the century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Brooke |date=2020-01-05 |title=Back In Time: History of the Colorado Territorial Penitentiary |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2020/01/05/back-in-time-history-of-the-colorado-territorial-penitentiary/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Canon City Daily Record |language=en-US}}</ref> Records of inmate labor at the penitentiary date to 1872, including numerous complaints that inmates were not receiving full compensation for their work. Incarcerated workers contributed significantly to the development of the city, including the construction of Skyline Drive by 60 inmates. The scenic road opened in 1905.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Brooke |date=2020-07-05 |title=Back In Time: For more than 100 years, Skyline Drive has been a must see for locals and visitors alike |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2020/07/04/back-in-time-for-more-than-100-years-skyline-drive-has-been-a-must-see-for-locals-and-visitors-alike/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Canon City Daily Record |language=en-US}}</ref>

A number of metal ore [[smelting|smelters]] were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at [[Cripple Creek, Colorado|Cripple Creek]] in 1891. On July 30, 1904, the spelling of the Cañon City post office was changed to the common [[English language|English spelling]] "[[Canyon City, Colorado|Canyon City]]", but the spelling was changed back to the [[Spanish language|Spanish spelling]] "Cañon City" on December 15 of that year.{{clear|left}}

===Historical designations===
The [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District]] is an [[historic district]] that was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1983.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Cañon City is located in eastern Fremont County. It sits primarily on the north side of the [[Arkansas River]], just east of where the river exits from [[Royal Gorge]]. It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of [[Lincoln Park, Colorado|Lincoln Park]]. Via [[U.S. Route 50]], [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] is {{convert|39|mi}} to the east and [[Poncha Springs, Colorado|Poncha Springs]] is {{convert|62|mi}} to the west. [[Colorado Springs]] is {{convert|45|mi}} to the northeast.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|32.127|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.032|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and {{convert|5300|ft|adj=on}} elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is {{convert|14|F-change}} warmer in Cañon City than in [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]], even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CO&refer=|title=United States of America Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

The average minimum temperature in January is {{convert|20|F}}. During July, overnight lows are {{convert|59|F}} on average. Cañon City has a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[Semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|''BSk'']]'').

{{Weather box|location = Cañon City, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
| single line = Y
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high F = 49.4
| Feb high F = 50.4
| Mar high F = 58.5
| Apr high F = 64.3
| May high F = 73.3
| Jun high F = 84.6
| Jul high F = 89.2
| Aug high F = 86.7
| Sep high F = 80.1
| Oct high F = 68.6
| Nov high F = 57.2
| Dec high F = 49.0
| year high F =
| Jan mean F = 33.9
| Feb mean F = 35.0
| Mar mean F = 42.3
| Apr mean F = 48.8
| May mean F = 58.2
| Jun mean F = 68.4
| Jul mean F = 73.9
| Aug mean F = 72.0
| Sep mean F = 64.2
| Oct mean F = 52.4
| Nov mean F = 41.8
| Dec mean F = 33.8
| year mean F = 52.1
| Jan low F = 18.4
| Feb low F = 19.7
| Mar low F = 26.1
| Apr low F = 33.2
| May low F = 43.0
| Jun low F = 52.2
| Jul low F = 58.7
| Aug low F = 57.2
| Sep low F = 48.4
| Oct low F = 36.1
| Nov low F = 26.3
| Dec low F = 18.7
| year low F =
| Jan record high F = 80
| Feb record high F = 82
| Mar record high F = 84
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 102
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 95
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 82
| year record high F =
| Jan record low F = -24
| Feb record low F = -30
| Mar record low F = -13
| Apr record low F = 5
| May record low F = 15
| Jun record low F = 30
| Jul record low F = 35
| Aug record low F = 35
| Sep record low F = 25
| Oct record low F = -3
| Nov record low F = -24
| Dec record low F = -25
| year record low F =
| Jan avg record high F = 68.1
| Feb avg record high F = 69.0
| Mar avg record high F = 76.5
| Apr avg record high F = 82.1
| May avg record high F = 89.0
| Jun avg record high F = 96.7
| Jul avg record high F = 97.8
| Aug avg record high F = 95.7
| Sep avg record high F = 92.1
| Oct avg record high F = 84.9
| Nov avg record high F = 75.6
| Dec avg record high F = 68.2
|year avg record high F = 98.8
| Jan avg record low F = -1.5
| Feb avg record low F = 2.2
| Mar avg record low F = 11.3
| Apr avg record low F = 20.2
| May avg record low F = 30.8
| Jun avg record low F = 42.9
| Jul avg record low F = 51.9
| Aug avg record low F = 50.0
| Sep avg record low F = 36.1
| Oct avg record low F = 21.2
| Nov avg record low F = 9.0
| Dec avg record low F = -1.6
|year avg record low F = -8.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.55
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.57
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.04
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.76
| May precipitation inch = 1.56
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.85
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.25
| Aug precipitation inch = 2.06
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.20
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.87
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.55
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.46
| year precipitation inch =
| Jan snow inch = 6.7
| Feb snow inch = 6.2
| Mar snow inch = 6.0
| Apr snow inch = 4.1
| May snow inch = 0.5
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.2
| Oct snow inch = 3.3
| Nov snow inch = 5.1
| Dec snow inch = 6.2
| year snow inch =
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.7
| Feb precipitation days = 4.7
| Mar precipitation days = 5.6
| Apr precipitation days = 6.8
| May precipitation days = 8.4
| Jun precipitation days = 7.4
| Jul precipitation days = 11.6
| Aug precipitation days = 12.0
| Sep precipitation days = 6.5
| Oct precipitation days = 5.4
| Nov precipitation days = 4.5
| Dec precipitation days = 4.1
| year precipitation days =
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 3.4
| Feb snow days = 3.9
| Mar snow days = 3.0
| Apr snow days = 2.1
| May snow days = 0.4
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 1.0
| Nov snow days = 2.5
| Dec snow days = 3.8
| year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00051294&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canon City, CO
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pub
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pueblo
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

===Neighborhoods===
[[File:StCloudHotel CanonCityCO.jpg|thumb|Located in Cañon City's [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District|National Historic District]], the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. It is currently unoccupied and in disrepair after a string of failed attempts to revive the business. The hotel was moved, brick by brick, from [[Silver Cliff, Colorado]], in 1888.]]
[[File:Royal gorge bridge 1987.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Gorge Bridge]] in 1987]]
[[File:ArkansasRiverwalk.jpg|thumb|Arkansas Riverwalk in Cañon City is part of John Griffin Regional Park. It is owned and operated by the Cañon City Area Metropolitan Recreation and Park District.]]

As Cañon City has grown, the city has both annexed surrounding communities and developed new subdivisions to create the city that exists today.

*Dawson Ranch
*Eagle Heights
*Fireman's Bluff
*Four Mile Ranch
*Gold Cañon
*Meadowbrook
*Orchard Park
*South Cañon, a historic neighborhood located on the west side south of the [[Arkansas River]]
*Sunrise Mesa
*Western Meadows
*Wolf Park
*Five Star Mobile Home park

==Parks and recreation==
Cañon City is home to many city-owned parks, as well as parks owned by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District.

===City-owned parks===
*Centennial Park, commonly known as "Duck Park"
*Denver & Rio Grande Western Park, commonly known as "Depot Park"
*Greydene Park
*Magdalene Park
*Margaret Park (originally Margarette Park)
*Mountain View Park, home of the city's skate park
*Red Canyon Park, a {{convert|500|acre|adj=on}} park located {{convert|10|mi|0}} north of the city
*Royal Gorge Park, home of the [[Royal Gorge Bridge]] and Park
*Rudd Park
*Temple Canyon Park
*Veterans Park, known for Entertainment in the Park concerts during the summer

===Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District===
The Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, commonly called the Rec District, was created in 1965<ref>{{cite web|title=Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District: About Us|url=http://ccrec.org/id1.html|access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> to better serve the community's recreational needs with parks, the R.C. Icabone Pool (a public swimming pool), a dog park, an archery range and a ropes course along with a rec district office with a community room.

The following parks are operated and owned by the Rec District:
*John Griffin Park, located near the Sell's Avenue Trailhead of the Riverwalk
*Harrison Park, the former playground of the former Harrison Elementary School which had been relocated to a newer, larger school building housing both elementary and middle school students
*Pathfinder Regional Park, a joint-managed park located in the county between Cañon City and [[Florence, Colorado|Florence]]
*Rouse Park

In addition, the city maintains the [[Tunnel Drive Trail]], a four-mile long out-and-back trail that follows the course of an old irrigation canal. The trailhead is located at the west end of Tunnel Drive, just inside the city limits.

The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in the name of [[Guy U. Hardy]] to recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in the [[Royal Gorge]] area.<ref name="CCDR - Award">{{Cite news |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/nominees-for-the-guy-u-hardy-award-for-service-to-outdoor-recreation-are-due-sunday |title=Nominees for the Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation are due Sunday |date=November 25, 2019 |work=Cañon City Daily Record |access-date=February 3, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 229
|1880= 1501
|1890= 2825
|1900= 3775
|1910= 5162
|1920= 4551
|1930= 5938
|1940= 6690
|1950= 6345
|1960= 8973
|1970= 9206
|1980= 13037
|1990= 12687
|2000= 15431
|2010= 16400
|2020= 17141
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the 2020 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/canoncitycitycolorado/PST045221 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2022 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 17,141 people residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,312.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% [[White American|White]], 1.0% [[African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian American|Asian]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 10.2% of the population. There were 7,448 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.05.

The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18 and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. Women represent 52% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,464. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $25,232. About 17.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].
{{clear|left}}

==Law==
Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and a municipal court, Cañon City is home to the courts for [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]] and the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21726122-though-federal-policy-prisons-moving-backwards-politics-incarceration-has-not|title = America's cheeriest prison town does not want to lock more people up|newspaper = The Economist|date = August 10, 2017}}</ref>

==Government==
Cañon City is governed via the [[Council–manager government]] system. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. The [[mayor]] is elected by the entire city.

==Economy==
The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching, and farming, but has largely grown to rely on the large number of state and federal prisons in the area, as well as to tourism, education, manufacturing, medicine and many other sectors.

===Major employers===
Cañon City depends on the [[Colorado Department of Corrections]] and federal prison system, and its tourism industry which includes the [[Royal Gorge Route Railroad]], [[Royal Gorge Bridge]] and Park, Red Canyon Park, The Abbey winery, and various other attractions. The major local employers include downtown shops, the entrepreneurial TechSTART initiative that attracts major technology-based entrepreneurs, and CommonSpirit (owner of [[Saint Thomas More Hospital|St. Thomas More Hospital]] and the Progressive Care Center).

====Prisons====
Prisons have served an important significance to both Cañon City and the surrounding areas of [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]], as well as to the state of [[Colorado]]. The [[Museum of Colorado Prisons]] has been given the role of preserving and presenting the past of the state's corrections system. [[Colorado Department of Corrections]] operates the [[Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility]] in Cañon City.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ctcf-colorado-territorial-correctional-facility Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809111417/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ctcf-colorado-territorial-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-09 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."</ref> In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in [[unincorporated area]]s in [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]], [[Colorado State Penitentiary]], the location of the state death row and execution chamber<ref name="ColoradoDR">"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/death-row-faq Death Row FAQ]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140804073048/http://www.doc.state.co.us/death-row-faq Archive]) [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.</ref> is in Fremont County.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/csp-colorado-state-penitentiary Colorado State Penitentiary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804135110/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/csp-colorado-state-penitentiary |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/node/11 Arrowhead Correctional Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120801152917/http://www.doc.state.co.us/node/11 |date=2012-08-01 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[Centennial Correctional Facility]],<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ccf-centennial-correctional-facility Centennial Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804032135/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ccf-centennial-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[Fremont Correctional Facility]],<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fcf-fremont-correctional-facility Fremont Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804044707/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fcf-fremont-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> Four Mile Correctional Center,<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fmcc-four-mile-correctional-center Four Mile Correctional Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804143942/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fmcc-four-mile-correctional-center |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[ADX Florence]],
and Skyline Correctional Center.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/scc-skyline-correctional-center Skyline Correctional Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804060201/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/scc-skyline-correctional-center |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref>

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://coloradoreflections.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-1929-prison-riot-at-colorado-state.html|title=The 1929 Prison Riot at the Colorado State Penitentiary
|website=Colorado Reflections}}</ref>

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.<ref>Mitchell, Kirk. "[http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12515121 Cañon City women's prison closes today]." ''[[The Denver Post]]''. June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/GEDtestingcenterscity.htm GDE Testing Centers by City] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420040212/http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/GEDtestingcenterscity.htm |date=2010-04-20 }}." [[Colorado Department of Education]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility
3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."</ref>

====Tourism====
From Cañon City's [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District|Downtown Historic District]] located in the heart of the city to the [[Royal Gorge Bridge]], there are many places to see and visit in the area. {{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

==Media==
Cañon City is home to a daily newspaper, called the ''[[Cañon City Daily Record]]''; an FM radio station, [[KSTY|Star Country]] [[104.5 FM]]; and a long-running AM radio station, known as [[KRLN]] NewsRadio [[1400 AM]].

==Transportation==
Transportation in the Cañon City area consists of cab service, shuttle bus service, and a downtown wagon ride. The [[Royal Gorge Bridge]] trolley had also been used during special events (it was destroyed in the [[Royal Gorge Bridge#2013 wildfire|Royal Gorge Fire]], but it was reserved for use by the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Jeep tours and [[Segway PT|Segway]] tours are also available to explore local parks such as Red Canyon Park or scenic places such as [[Skyline Drive (Colorado)|Skyline Drive]].

The town is served by the Fremont County airport (1V6) which is 6 miles to the East and currently has no scheduled passenger service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport |url=https://www.fremontco.com/airport/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080418/https://www.fremontco.com/airport/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2018 }}</ref> Within an hour's drive is the [[Colorado Springs Airport]] with daily service by major airlines.

===Major roads and highways===
The area is served by one state and one U.S. highway with a mix of city and county roads to navigate the city or connect to neighboring areas.

====State and national highways====
*[[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]] - named Royal Gorge Boulevard from 1st Street to 15th Street in downtown Cañon
*[[State Highway 115 (Colorado)|State Highway 115]] - connects the city to nearby Florence and [[Penrose, Colorado|Penrose]], ending in [[Colorado Springs]]

====City and county roads====
*4th Street - connecting Downtown with South Cañon, Oak Creek Grade, [[Prospect Heights, Colorado|Prospect Heights]], and Capitol Hill
*5th Street - serves as a north-south connector from Downtown north, allows traffic from Skyline Drive to return to U.S. 50
*9th Street - serves as a carrier of CO 115 from the roundabout to the junction with U.S. 50, heads north and ends at Washington Street
*15th Street - main route north to the hospital, a fire station and a small cluster of businesses
*Orchard Avenue
*Raynolds Avenue/Ash Street - runs from center of East Cañon to CO 115 via a county road, changes to a gravel road and becomes Chandler Road
*MacKenzie / Four Mile Lane - routed to connect from CO 115 as a carrier of CR 20 until the city limits, at Hwy 50, heads north as Four Mile Lane

====Bus service====
*Cañon City is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

====Scenic routes====
*[[Skyline Drive (Colorado)|Skyline Drive]], major scenic route overlooking Cañon City that was originally built by local inmates at the Territorial Prison

====Railroads====
*The [[Union Pacific Railroad]] mothballed the [[Tennessee Pass (Colorado)|Tennessee Pass]] line in 1997. In 1998 [[Rock and Rail LLC]] was formed, and began operating on the former Union Pacific track between Cañon City and [[Parkdale, Colorado|Parkdale]]. It also operates between Pueblo and Cañon City on lines purchased from the UP Railway. The tourist line [[Cañon City and Royal Gorge Railroad]] also operates on the RRRR's track.

==Education==
:''See also [[Cañon City School District]]''
Cañon City's school system is under the direction of the [[Cañon City School District]] Fremont RE-1.<ref name=Education>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoncityschools.org|access-date=November 11, 2013|title=Cañon City Schools}}</ref> The district currently has four elementary schools, one charter school, one school serving as both an elementary school and middle school, one middle school and one high school, [[Cañon City High School]].

Cañon City's higher education needs are served by the [[Pueblo Community College]] Fremont Campus, located on the west end of the city along [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pueblocc.edu/fremont |title=Fremont Campus {{!}} Pueblo Community College |website=pueblocc.edu}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
===Listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]===
*[[Cañon City Downtown Historic District]]
*[[Cañon City Municipal Building]], also known as the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center
*[[Cañon City Post Office and Federal Building]]
*[[Cañon City State Armory]]

===Other sites===
*[[Colorado State Penitentiary]]
*[[Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility]]
*[[Holy Cross Abbey (Cañon City, Colorado)]]
*[[Museum of Colorado Prisons]]
*[[Peabody Mansion]], home of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce
*[[Royal Gorge Bridge]] and Park
*[[Royal Gorge Route Railroad]]

===Defunct sites===
*[[Buckskin Joe]], closed in 2010

==Notable people==
*[[Edgar Allen]], anatomist and physiologist
*[[Robert Wesley Amick]], artist
*[[Don Bendell]], writer
*[[Jack Christiansen]], NFL hall-of-famer ([[Detroit Lions]])
*[[Donald S. Fredrickson]], medical researcher, former director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] and first president of the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]]; born in Cañon City
*[[Kent Haruf]], novelist, graduated from high school in Cañon City
*[[Skip Konte]], musician, "Wizard of all Northern Realms"
*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Emory S. Land]] ([[U.S. Navy]]), born in Cañon City
*[[Bird Millman]], stage name of Jeannadean Engleman, Circus Aerialist, born in Cañon City
*[[James Hamilton Peabody]], former [[Colorado]] governor

==In popular culture==

The movie [[Canon City (film)|''Canon City'']] (1948) depicts the real-life 1947 escape of 12 prisoners from nearby [[Colorado State Penitentiary]].<ref name="IMDB">{{cite book|title=Canon City| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040210/| publisher=IMDb|date=June 30, 1948| access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

A diner in Cañon City is the setting of the song "Navajo Rug", which was named by the [[Western Writers of America]] as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.<ref name="Top100">{{Cite web|title=The Top 100 Western Songs |author=Western Writers of America |year=2010 |author-link=Western Writers of America |website=American Cowboy |url=http://www.americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019002745/http://americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A fictional version of the city is depicted in [[Philip K. Dick]]'s [[alternate history]] novel ''[[The Man in the High Castle]]'' (1963) and [[The Man in the High Castle (TV series)|its eponymous 2015 television series adaptation]]. Cañon City is in an ostensibly-[[Demilitarized zone|demilitarized]] "neutral zone" between the [[puppet state|puppet regimes]] of the Japanese Pacific States, in the west, and Greater Nazi Reich, in the east, in the former United States.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| last1=Enger| first1=Jeremy| title=Red, Reich and Blue: Building the World of 'The Man in the High Castle'| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/arts/television/the-man-in-the-high-castle-imagines-a-red-reich-and-blue.html?_r=0| work=The New York Times| date=November 19, 2015| access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
{{See also|List of sister cities in Colorado}}
Cañon City's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister Cities: Valdai, Novgorod Oblast, Russia|url=https://museum.canoncity.org/?p=841|website=canoncity.org|publisher=Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Chalchicomula de Sesma Municipality|Chalchicomula de Sesma]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kahoku, Yamagata|Kahoku]], Japan
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Valday, Novgorod Oblast|Valday]], Russia

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of crossings of the Arkansas River]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Colorado State Penitentiary]]
*[[Royal Gorge]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://www.canoncity.org/ City of Cañon City official website]
*[http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/ Cañon City news and information] from the ''[[Cañon City Daily Record]]''
*[http://www.canoncitycolorado.com/ Cañon City & Royal Gorge Visitor Information]
*[http://www.canoncitychamber.com/ Cañon City Chamber of Commerce]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Fremont County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canon City, Colorado}}
[[Category:Cañon City, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Fremont County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1860]]

Breckenridge, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:19:06Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Home-rule town and seat of Summit County, Colorado, USA}}
{{about|the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado|the ski resort above the town|Breckenridge Ski Resort}}
{{infobox settlement
| name = Breckenridge, Colorado
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=February 13, 2025}}</ref>
| motto = 
| image_skyline = Breckenridge Main Street.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Main Street in Breckenridge
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal = Town of Breckenridge logo.svg
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map = Summit County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Breckenridge Highlighted 0808400.svg
| map_caption = Location of the Town of Breckenridge in {{nowrap|[[Summit County, Colorado]]}}
| pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label = Breckenridge
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado.
| coordinates = {{coord|39.4817|-106.0384|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204681|name=Breckenridge, Colorado|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204681|name=Breckenridge, Colorado|access-date=January 31, 2025}}</ref>
| elevation_ft = 9728
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Summit County, Colorado|Summit]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=January 30, 2025}}</ref>
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule town]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Eric Mamula{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| leader_title1 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date = November 1859 as Breckinridge
| established_title2 = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = March 3, 1880<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web|url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030823045734/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2003|title=Colorado Municipal Incorporations|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives|date=December 1, 2004|access-date=September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 = 
| unit_pref = US
| total_type = Total
| area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 15.661
| area_land_km2 = 15.661
| area_water_km2 = 0.000
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total = 5,078
| population_density_sq_mi = 840
| population_metro = 31,055
| timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset1 = −07:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −06:00
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 80424<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=September 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903025217/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=September 3, 2007 }}</ref>
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
| blank_info = {{GNIS 4|204681}}
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
| blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2411722}}
| blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|08400}}
| website = [http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/ Town of Breckenridge]
}}

'''Breckenridge''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Summit County, Colorado|Summit County]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615012444/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}</ref> The town population was 5,078 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Breckenridge is the principal town of the [[Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. The town also has many part-time residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area. The town is located at the base of the [[Tenmile Range]].

Since ski trails were first cut in 1961, [[Breckenridge Ski Resort]] has made the town a popular destination for skiers. Summer in Breckenridge attracts outdoor enthusiasts with hiking trails, [[wildflower]]s, [[fly fishing]] in the [[Blue River (Colorado)|Blue River]], mountain biking, nearby [[Lake Dillon]] for boating, white-water rafting, three [[alpine slide]]s, a roller coaster, and many shops and restaurants up and down Main Street. The historic buildings along Main Street with their clapboard and log exteriors add to the charm of the town. Since 1981, Breckenridge has hosted the Breckenridge Festival of Film in September, while in January, the town has often been host to a screening of the Backcountry Film Festival.<ref name=Without2017>{{cite web |url=https://www.withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=1066 |title=37th Annual Breckenridge Film Festival |access-date=March 4, 2017 |publisher=Without A Box |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111539/https://www.withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=1066 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=BreckFilmFest>{{cite web |title=About the Breck Film Fest |url=http://breckfilmfest.org/ |access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=Summit2017>{{cite news |url=http://www.summitdaily.com/explore-summit/backcountry-film-festival-returns-jan-21-to-breckenridge/ |title=Backcountry Film Festival returns Jan. 21 to Breckenridge |date=January 11, 2017 |newspaper=Summit Daily |location=Summit County, Colorado |access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref> Also held in December is Ullr Fest, a week of festivities celebrating snow and honoring the Norse god [[Ullr]].<ref name=UllrFest>{{cite web |url= https://gobreck.com/event/ullr-fest |title=Breckenridge Ullr Fest |date=2023 |access-date=November 4, 2023 |publisher=gobreck.com}}</ref> There are many summertime attractions to enjoy in Breckenridge, most notably the annual [[Independence Day (United States)|Fourth of July]] parade.

==History==
===Name===
The first prospectors in the area built a stockade known as [[Fort Mary B]] named after Mary Bigelow, who was the only woman in the party. The town of Breckenridge was founded in November 1859 and named for prospector Thomas Breckenridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-county-history-two-theories-of-how-breckenridge-got-its-name-2/|title=Summit County history: Two theories of how Breckenridge got its name|work=SummitDaily|last=Hague|first=Rick|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> General [[George E. Spencer]] persuaded the citizens to change the spelling of the town's name to Breckinridge in honor of [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]] [[John Cabell Breckinridge]] in the hopes of gaining a [[post office]]. Spencer succeeded in his plan and on January 18, 1860, the [[Breckinridge, Colorado|Breckinridge]] post office became the first U.S. post office between the [[Continental Divide]] and [[Salt Lake City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740&view=1up&seq=17|title=Breckenridge|work=Place Names in Colorado: Why 700 Communities Were So Named|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|page=11|date=1954|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> Thirty days after John Breckinridge accepted a commission as a [[General officers in the Confederate States Army#Brigadier general|brigadier general]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] on November 2, 1861, the loyal [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] town changed its name back to the original Breckenridge on December 2, 1861.<ref name="Town History">{{cite web
|title=Town History, Gold Dust to White Gold
|work=Special Features
|publisher=Town of Breckenridge
|url=http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.cfm?d=history
|access-date=February 23, 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209234241/http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.cfm?d=history
|archive-date=February 9, 2007
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref>

===Discovery===
[[File:Snow tunnel to Breckenridge CO , 1898.jpg|thumb|upright|Snow tunnel in Breckenridge, 1898. The winter of 1898–99 was extremely harsh. The trains could not run, and supplies were running short.]]
Prospectors entered what is now Summit County (then part of [[Utah Territory]]) during the [[Pikes Peak Gold Rush]] of 1859, soon after the [[placer gold]] discoveries east of Breckenridge near [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]]. Breckenridge was founded to serve the miners working rich placer gold deposits discovered along the [[Blue River (Colorado)|Blue River]]. [[placer mining|Placer gold mining]] was soon joined by [[Underground mining (hard rock)|hard rock mining]], as prospectors followed the gold to its source [[Vein (geology)|veins]] in the hills. Gold in some upper gravel benches east of the Blue River was recovered by [[hydraulic mining]]. Gold production decreased in the late 1800s, but revived in 1908 by gold [[dredging]] operations along the Blue River and [[Swan River (Colorado)|Swan River]]. The Breckenridge mining district is credited with production of about one million [[Troy weight|troy ounces]] (about 31,000 kilograms) of gold.<ref>A. H. Koschman and M. H. Bergendahl (1968) ''Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States''. US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 610, p. 116–117</ref>
The gold mines around Breckenridge are all shut down, although some are open to tourist visits. The characteristic gravel ridges left by the gold dredges can still be seen along the Blue River and [[Snake River (Colorado)|Snake River]], and the remains of a dredge are still afloat in a pond off the Swan River.

Notable among the early prospectors was [[Edwin Carter]], a log cabin naturalist who decided to switch from mining to collecting wildlife specimens. His log cabin, built in 1875, still stands today and has been recently renovated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance with interactive exhibits and a small viewing room with a short creative film on his life and the early days around Breckenridge.

Harry Farncomb found the source of the French Gulch placer gold on Farncomb Hill in 1878. His strike, Wire Patch, consisted of alluvial gold in wire, leaf and crystalline forms. By 1880, he owned the hill. Farncomb later discovered a gold vein, which became the Wire Patch Mine. Other vein discoveries included Ontario, Key West, Boss, Fountain, and Gold Flake.<ref name=Voynick>Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555}}</ref>{{rp|57}}
[[File:Gold-263851.jpg|thumb|upright|Gold specimen from Farncomb Hill, Breckenridge]]

The Town of Breckenridge was incorporated on March 3, 1880.<ref name=MuniIncCO/> The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance reports that in the 1930s, a women's group in Breckenridge stumbled upon an 1880s map that failed to include Breckenridge. They speculated that Breckenridge had never been officially annexed into the United States, and was thus still considered "No Man's Land". This was completely false—official US maps did include Breckenridge—but these women created an incredibly clever marketing campaign out of this one map. In 1936 they invited the Governor of Colorado to Breckenridge to raise a flag at the Courthouse officially welcoming Breckenridge into the union—and he came. There was a big party, and the entire event/idea of Breckenridge being left off the map made national news. The "No Man's Land" idea later morphed into a new theme of Breckenridge being referred to as "Colorado's Kingdom", and the theme of the town's independent spirit is still celebrated to today during the annual "Kingdom Days" celebrations every June.

In December 1961, skiing was introduced to Breckenridge when several trails were cut on the lower part of Peak 8, connected to town by Ski Hill Road. In the ensuing decades, the ski area was gradually expanded onto adjacent peaks, with trails opening on Peak 9 in the early 1970s, Peak 10 in 1985, Peak 7 in 2002, and Peak 6 in 2013.

On November 3, 2009, voters passed ballot measure 2F by a nearly 3 to 1 margin (73%), which legalized [[marijuana]] possession for adults. The measure allows possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and also decriminalizes the possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia. Possession became legal January 1, 2010. Possession was still illegal by state law, however, until the passage of [[Colorado Amendment 64]] in 2012.<ref name="CBS News: Breckenridge votes">
{{cite news
| title =Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Pot
| publisher =CBS
| date =November 3, 2009
| url =https://www.cbsnews.com/news/breckenridge-votes-to-legalize-pot/
| access-date =November 5, 2009}}
</ref>

==Geography==
Breckenridge is located at coordinates {{coord|39.4817|-106.0384|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204681|name=Breckenridge, Colorado|display=inline}}.<ref name=GNIS/>

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|15.661|km2|mi2|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name=2020_Census/> The ski area has a total area of {{convert|2880|acre|km2}} of land. The [[elevation]] of Breckenridge is {{Convert|9601|ft|m}} [[Sea level#AMSL|above sea level]].
{{Clear}}
{{wide image|Breckenridge,CO-Panorama.jpg|1410px|A spring panorama of Breckenridge}}

===Climate===
Breckenridge's climate is considered to be [[Alpine climate|high-alpine]] with the [[tree line]] at {{convert|11500|ft|m}}.
The average humidity remains around 30% throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=368 |title=Town of Breckenridge : Living in Breckenridge |website=townofbreckenridge.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102082727/http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=368 |archive-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> At the elevation of the weather station, the climate could be described as a [[subalpine climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfc'') since summer means are above {{convert|50|F|C}} in spite of the very cool mornings. Winter lows are quite severe, but afternoons averaging around the freezing mark somewhat moderate mean temperatures.

A weather station was run in the town from 1893 to 1913, and from 1948 to the present day. However, temperature measurements are mostly confined to the first period, and the temperature record is thus very sparse. Even so, a temperature of freezing or below was recorded for every single date of the year except July 26.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bou|title=National Weather Service Climate|author=National Weather Service |website=w2.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408214757/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bou|archive-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> During the winter of 1898–1899, snow was reported to fall for a record 79 consecutive days. Residents tunneled through the snow to navigate Main Street.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Kelly |title=It once snowed for 79 days straight in this Colorado town |url=https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/it-once-snowed-for-79-days-straight-in-this-colorado-town/73-503962275 |website=9news.com |access-date=January 14, 2024 |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref>

{{clear}}
{{Weather box
|location = Breckenridge, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–1978
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 71
|Mar record high F = 61
|Apr record high F = 69
|May record high F = 78
|Jun record high F = 85
|Jul record high F = 86
|Aug record high F = 90
|Sep record high F = 86
|Oct record high F = 77
|Nov record high F = 69
|Dec record high F = 60
|year record high F = 90

|Jan avg record high F = 45.5
|Feb avg record high F = 45.4
|Mar avg record high F = 51.9
|Apr avg record high F = 60.3
|May avg record high F = 68.2
|Jun avg record high F = 76.4
|Jul avg record high F = 79.5
|Aug avg record high F = 79.9
|Sep avg record high F = 74.5
|Oct avg record high F = 67.1
|Nov avg record high F = 57.0
|Dec avg record high F = 48.3
|year avg record high F = 80.8

|Jan high F = 29.7
|Feb high F = 30.4
|Mar high F = 36.9
|Apr high F = 44.4
|May high F = 53.4
|Jun high F = 65.2
|Jul high F = 70.2
|Aug high F = 70.3
|Sep high F = 63.9
|Oct high F = 51.8
|Nov high F = 40.7
|Dec high F = 30.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 15.1
|Feb mean F = 15.9
|Mar mean F = 22.5
|Apr mean F = 30.6
|May mean F = 39.1
|Jun mean F = 48.4
|Jul mean F = 53.8
|Aug mean F = 53.4
|Sep mean F = 46.5
|Oct mean F = 36.0
|Nov mean F = 25.4
|Dec mean F = 15.4
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 0.2
|Feb low F = 1.1
|Mar low F = 8.4
|Apr low F = 16.5
|May low F = 24.8
|Jun low F = 31.7
|Jul low F = 37.3
|Aug low F = 36.6
|Sep low F = 29.1
|Oct low F = 20.1
|Nov low F = 10.0
|Dec low F = 0.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -22.2
|Feb avg record low F = -21.0
|Mar avg record low F = -11.5
|Apr avg record low F = -4.0
|May avg record low F = 8.9
|Jun avg record low F = 21.9
|Jul avg record low F = 28.6
|Aug avg record low F = 28.2
|Sep avg record low F = 17.0
|Oct avg record low F = 3.2
|Nov avg record low F = -10.9
|Dec avg record low F = -21.0
|year avg record low F = -28.3

|Jan record low F = -40
|Feb record low F = -37
|Mar record low F = -25
|Apr record low F = -35
|May record low F = -6
|Jun record low F = 3
|Jul record low F = 10
|Aug record low F = 22
|Sep record low F = 7
|Oct record low F = -11
|Nov record low F = -26
|Dec record low F = -36
|year record low F = -40

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.73
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.88
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.03
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.46
|May precipitation inch = 1.97
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.16
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.45
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.24
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.53
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.35
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.45
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.52
|year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 27.7
|Feb snow inch = 27.7
|Mar snow inch = 27.6
|Apr snow inch = 28.0
|May snow inch = 9.5
|Jun snow inch = 0.8
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 2.2
|Oct snow inch = 13.6
|Nov snow inch = 23.7
|Dec snow inch = 23.8
|year snow inch =

|Jan snow depth inch = 30.3
|Feb snow depth inch = 38.9
|Mar snow depth inch = 41.4
|Apr snow depth inch = 30.2
|May snow depth inch = 6.7
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.3
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.8
|Oct snow depth inch = 7.1
|Nov snow depth inch = 12.8
|Dec snow depth inch = 22.6
|year snow depth inch = 27.7

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 12.3
|Mar precipitation days = 12.5
|Apr precipitation days = 12.8
|May precipitation days = 10.3
|Jun precipitation days = 8.2
|Jul precipitation days = 13.4
|Aug precipitation days = 14.4
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.6
|Nov precipitation days = 10.1
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 12.5
|Feb snow days = 12.2
|Mar snow days = 12.0
|Apr snow days = 11.3
|May snow days = 4.4
|Jun snow days = 0.6
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 1.0
|Oct snow days = 5.7
|Nov snow days = 9.7
|Dec snow days = 11.1

|source 1 = National Weather Service (average daily high/mean/low, mean maxima/minima 1893–1978)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boulder/Denver
|access-date = February 28, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050909&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 6, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 51
|1880= 1657
|1900= 976
|1910= 834
|1920= 796
|1930= 436
|1940= 381
|1950= 296
|1960= 393
|1970= 548
|1980= 818
|1990= 1285
|2000= 2408
|2010= 4540
|2020= 5078
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 2,408 people, 1,081 households, and 380 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|486.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,270 housing units at an average density of {{convert|862.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.04% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.44% of the population.

There were 1,081 households, out of which 13.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.1% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 45.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 2.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 164.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,938, and the median income for a family was $52,212. Males had a median income of $29,571 versus $27,917 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $29,675. About 5.2% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

For 2009 the average price for a single family home in the Breckenridge area is $1,035,806 with a sold price per square foot of $314.00. For multifamily properties the average price is $560,689 with a sales price per square foot of $440. Land sales prices averaged $373,067.<ref name="Breckenridge Real Estate">
{{cite web| title =Breckenridge Real Estate| work =General Market Reports| publisher =Andrew Biggin| url =http://www.breckenridgehomes.net/General_Market_Reports| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061211194543/http://www.breckenridgehomes.net/General_Market_Reports| url-status =dead| archive-date =December 11, 2006| access-date =December 22, 2009}}</ref>

==Events==
[[File:Litle V. USA. 99.jpg|thumb|upright |Mexican sculptor [[Abel Ramírez Águilar]] posing with other members of team at the International Snow Sculpture Championships in 1999]]

Breckenridge holds public events throughout the year.

===Winter===
Every January, the International Snow Sculpture Championships are held in Breckenridge, where sculptors from around the world compete to create works of art from twenty-ton blocks of snow. The annual winter Ullr Fest parade pays homage to the Norse god of snow [[Ullr]]. The Backcountry Film Fest began in the 21st century, which happens in January.<ref name=Summit2017/> That is held about the same time as the Ullr Fest.<ref name=UllrFest/>

Since winter of 2008–2009, the Freeway Terrain Park on Peak 8 hosts the [[Winter Dew Tour]] in December, featuring the biggest names in extreme snowboarding and skiing. Other events held on the mountain include the annual Imperial Challenge, Breck's version of a triathlon, The 5 Peaks, North America's longest ski mountaineering race, the Breck Ascent Series, with races up the mountain, as well as other competitions, festivals, and the annual Spring Fever month-long celebration at the end of the ski season with festivities and other celebrations around spring skiing.<ref name="Breckenridge Snow Sculpture">{{cite web |title=Breckenridge Snow Sculptures |work=Breckenridge Real Estate – Snow Sculptures |publisher=Ron Shelton |url=http://skicountryhomes.com/Snow_Sculptures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227072256/http://skicountryhomes.com/Snow_Sculptures |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 27, 2009 |access-date=December 12, 2009 }}</ref>

===Summer and fall===
During the summer, Breckenridge is host to the [[National Repertory Orchestra]] and the Breckenridge Music Institute. Concerts are scheduled three to four nights a week. Full orchestra, ensembles, and contemporary artists perform at the Riverwalk Center, downtown near the Blue River. Several art fairs come to Breckenridge every summer, attracting many local artists and buyers. The town also puts on an annual Fourth of July celebration, featuring a parade in the morning and fireworks at night. In September each year since 1981, the Breckenridge Festival of film is held.<ref name=Without2017/><ref name=BreckFilmFest/>

==Notable people==
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Breckenridge include:
* [[Pat Ahern (skier)|Pat Ahern]] (1961– ), U.S. Olympic Nordic combined skier
* [[Edwin Carter]] (c.1830–1900), miner, naturalist<ref>{{cite web | title = Edwin Carter Discovery Center | publisher = Breckenridge Heritage Alliance | url = http://breckheritage.com/edwin-carter-discovery-center/ | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160622170554/http://breckheritage.com/edwin-carter-discovery-center/ | archive-date = June 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Jeff Cravath]] (1903–1953), football coach<ref>{{cite web | title = Jeff Cravath | website = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186578/ | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Barney Ford]] (1822–1902), Colorado businessman and civil-rights pioneer
* [[Arielle Gold]] (1996– ), Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder<ref name=Gold>{{cite web | last = Foltz | first = Sebastian | title = Steamboat Olympic snowboarders Taylor and Arielle Gold at home in Breckenridge | publisher = Summit Daily | date = March 6, 2015 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/news/15323558-113/growing-up-golden | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822215010/http://www.summitdaily.com/news/15323558-113/growing-up-golden | archive-date = August 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Taylor Gold]] (1993– ), Olympic snowboarder<ref name=Gold/>
* [[Al Jourgensen]] (1958– ), singer-songwriter, producer<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Murphy | first = Tom | title = Ministry's Al Jourgensen on his ties to Colorado: living in Breckenridge, attending Greeley High School and his ill-fated attempt at a rodeo career | magazine = Westword | date = June 12, 2012 | url = http://www.westword.com/music/ministrys-al-jourgensen-on-his-ties-to-colorado-living-in-breckenridge-attending-greeley-high-school-and-his-ill-fated-attempt-at-a-rodeo-career-5683383#! | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Heather McPhie]] (1984– ), U.S. Olympic freestyle/moguls skier<ref>{{cite web | last = Frame | first = Andy | title = McPhie wins Landon Sawyer Bump Bash | publisher = Summit Daily | date = April 9, 2005 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050409/SPORTS/104090033 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Monique Merrill]] (1969– ), mountain biker, ski mountaineer<ref>{{cite web | last = McClean | first = Page | title = Life on Two Wheels: Globetrotting with former adventure racer Monique Merrill | publisher = Summit Daily | date = July 25, 2015 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/news/17401997-113/life-on-two-wheels-globetrotting-with-former-adventure | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[J. R. Moehringer]] (1964– ), novelist, reporter<ref>{{cite news | last = Clarke | first = Norm | title = AN 'OPEN' DISCUSSION WITH JR MOEHRINGER | newspaper = Las Vegas Review-Journal | date = January 5, 2010 | url = http://www.reviewjournal.com/norm-clarke/open-discussion-jr-moehringer | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Helen Rich]] (1894–1971), novelist and journalist<ref name="Colorado Women: A History">{{cite book |first=Gail M. |last=Beaton |date=2012 |title=Colorado Women: A History |type=book |location=Boulder, Colorado |publisher=University Press of Colorado |isbn=978-1607321958}}</ref>
* [[Betsy Sodaro]] (1984– ), actress, comedian<ref>{{cite web | last = Porter IV | first = Miles | title = Hey, Spike! offers a plethora of personalities | publisher = Summit Daily | date = August 30, 2012 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120831/NEWS/120839991 | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822204420/http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120831/NEWS/120839991 | archive-date = August 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Pete Swenson]] (1967– ), ski mountaineer<ref>{{cite web | last = Lapides | first = Katie | title = Colorado's randonee king: Pete Swenson | publisher = Summit Daily | date = February 10, 2011 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20110211/SPORTS/110219968 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Belle Turnbull]] (1881–1970), poet<ref name="Colorado Women: A History"/>
* [[Katie Uhlaender]] (1984– ), U.S. Olympic skeleton racer<ref>{{cite web | title = Katie Uhlaender | publisher = Team USA | url = http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/UH/Katie-Uhlaender | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130904190842/http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/UH/Katie-Uhlaender | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 4, 2013 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Breckenridge STOLport]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.townofbreckenridge.com/ Town of Breckenridge]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
*[https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/breckenridge/ Breckenridge gold mining history] at Western Mining History
{{Summit County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Breckenridge, Colorado|*]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Summit County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Utah Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]

Aspen, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:17:58Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Home-rule city and seat of Pitkin County, Colorado, USA}}
{{infobox settlement

| name = Aspen, Colorado
| official_name = City of Aspen
| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref>
| image_skyline = Downtown of Aspen, Colorado.jpg
| image_caption = Downtown Aspen (2005)
| image_flag = Flag of Aspen, Colorado.png
| flag_size = 130px
| image_blank_emblem = Aspen, CO Logo.png
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
| named_for = [[Aspen|Aspen trees]] around the city
| image_map = Pitkin County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Aspen Highlighted 0803620.svg
| map_caption = Location within [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]] and [[Colorado]]

| pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label = Aspen
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the City of Aspen, Colorado.

| coordinates = {{coord|39.1911|-106.8175|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204686|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204686|name=Aspen, Colorado|access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref>
| elevation_ft = 7891
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
| elevation_max_ft = 8460
| elevation_max_point = At SW corner of city boundary
| elevation_min_ft = 7660
| elevation_min_point = [[Roaring Fork River|Roaring Fork]] at N corner of city
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref>
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1879
| established_title1 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporation]]
| established_date1 = 1881
| government_type = [[Council–manager]]
| leader_title = City manager
| leader_title1 = Mayor

| unit_pref = US
| area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 9.992
| area_land_km2 = 9.992
| area_water_km2 = 0.000

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total = 7,004
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,815
| population_metro = 79,043
| population_blank1_title = [[Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank1 = 134,774

| timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset1 = −07:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −06:00
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 81611, 81612 ([[PO Box]]es)
| area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
| blank_info = {{GNIS 4|204686}}
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
| blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2409743}}
| blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|03620}}
| website = {{url|https://www.aspen.gov|aspen.gov}}
}}

'''Aspen''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Pitkin County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name = "GR6">{{cite web|url = http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date = June 7, 2011|title = Find a County|publisher = National Association of Counties|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date = May 31, 2011|df = mdy}}{{nonspecific|date = July 2017}}</ref><ref name=CountySeatsCO>{{cite web|url = http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html|title = Colorado County Seats|publisher = [[State of Colorado]], Department of Public Health and Environment}}{{nonspecific|date=July 2017}}</ref> The city population was 7,004 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Aspen is in a remote area of the [[Rocky Mountains]]' [[Sawatch Range]] and [[Elk Mountains (Colorado)|Elk Mountains]], along the [[Roaring Fork River]] at an elevation just below {{convert|8000|ft}} on the [[Western Slope of Colorado|Western Slope]], {{convert|11|mi}} west of the [[Continental Divide]]. Aspen is now a part of the [[Glenwood Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and governed as a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]].

Founded as a mining camp during the [[Colorado Silver Boom]] and later named Aspen for the abundance of [[aspen]] trees in the area, the city [[boomtown|boomed]] during the 1880s, its first decade. The boom ended when the [[Panic of 1893]] led to a collapse of the silver market. For the next half-century, known as "the quiet years", the population steadily declined, reaching a nadir of fewer than 1000 by [[United States Census, 1930|1930]]. Aspen's fortunes recovered in the mid-20th century when neighboring [[Aspen Mountain (Colorado)|Aspen Mountain]] was developed into [[Aspen Mountain (ski area)|a ski resort]], and industrialist [[Walter Paepcke]] bought many properties in the city in the 1950s and redeveloped them. Today it is home to three institutions, two of which Paepcke helped found, having international importance: the [[Aspen Music Festival and School]], the [[Aspen Institute]], and the [[Aspen Center for Physics]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aspen Center for Physics|url=http://www.aspenphys.org/|website=Aspen Center for Physics|access-date=July 12, 2017}}</ref>

In the late 20th century, the town became a popular retreat for celebrities. [[Gonzo journalism|Gonzo journalist]] [[Hunter S. Thompson]] worked out of a downtown hotel and ran unsuccessfully for county sheriff. Singer [[John Denver]] wrote two songs about Aspen after settling there. Both figures popularized Aspen among the counter-cultural youth of the 1970s as an ideal place to live, and the city continued to grow even as it gained notoriety for some of the era's hedonistic excesses (particularly its [[drug culture]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cowan|first=Jay|date=2019|title=Scandal Aspen|publisher=Blue Trail Ink|page=xxi-xxvi|isbn=9781096329879}}</ref>

Aspen remains popular as a year-round destination for locals, second-home buyers and tourists. Outdoor recreation in the surrounding [[White River National Forest]] serves as a summertime counterpart to the city's four ski areas. Prime residential real estate in Aspen is the most expensive of any ski resort in the world on a per-square-foot basis, according to a study of 44 global ski resorts.<ref name="savills">{{Cite web |title=Savills Prime Residential Index |url=https://www.savills.com/research_articles/255800/353532-0 |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=www.savills.com |language=English}}</ref> Aspen is the world's second-highest-rated ski resort in terms of "the quality and reliability of their conditions and their capacity to withstand climate change."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Savills |date=November 30, 2021 |title=Which ski resort is most resilient? |url=https://www.savills.com/research_articles/255800/321815-0 |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=Savills}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Silver mines, Aspen, Colorado, 1898.jpg|thumb|left|Silver mines in Aspen (1898)]]
[[File:Aspen, 1962, Kodachrome by Chalmers Butterfield.jpg|thumb|left|Aspen (1962)]]

The city's roots are traced to the winter of 1879, when a group of miners ignored pleas by [[Frederick Walker Pitkin|Frederick Pitkin]], Governor of Colorado, to return across the Continental Divide to avoid a [[Ute people|Ute]] uprising. The Utes were fighting to maintain possession of their land and communities. Originally named Ute City, the small community was renamed Aspen. The Aspen, Colorado, post office opened on June 7, 1880.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]] was created on February 23, 1881, with Aspen as its first and only seat.<ref name=COcounty/> The Town of Aspen was incorporated on April 1, 1881.<ref name="MuniIncCO">{{cite web |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs|Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government}}</ref> In its peak production years of 1891 and 1892, Aspen surpassed [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]] as the United States' most productive silver-mining district.<ref>Charles W. Henderson, 1926, ''Mining in Colorado'', U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 138, p.176, 201.</ref> Production expanded due to the passage of the [[Sherman Silver Purchase Act]] of 1890, which doubled the government's purchase of silver. In 1883, the [[Archdiocese of Denver|Apostolic Vicarate of Colorado]]'s [[Joseph Projectus Machebeuf|Bishop Machebeuf]] had the Reverend Edward Downey establish the first [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] mission in Aspen.<ref>{{cite book|title=Life of the Right Reverend Joseph P. Machebeuf, D.D.|last=Howlett|first=W.J.|page=392|location=[[Denver]]}}</ref>

By 1893, Aspen had banks, a hospital, a police department, two theaters, an opera house, and electric lights. Economic collapse came with the [[Panic of 1893]], when [[Grover Cleveland|President Cleveland]] called a special session of Congress and repealed the act. Within weeks, many of the Aspen mines were closed and thousands of miners were put out of work. It was proposed that silver be recognized as legal tender and the [[People's Party (United States)|People's Party]] (populists) adopted that as one of its main issues. [[Davis H. Waite]], an Aspen newspaperman and agitator, was elected governor of Colorado on the Democratic ticket, but in time the movement failed.

Eventually, after wage cuts, mining revived somewhat, but production declined and by the 1930 census only 705 residents remained. Remaining, however, were stocks of old commercial buildings and residences, along with excellent snow. Aspen's development as a ski resort began in the 1930s when investors conceived of a ski area, but the project was interrupted by [[World War II]]. Friedl Pfeifer, a member of the [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] who had trained in the area, returned to the area and linked up with industrialist [[Walter Paepcke]] and his wife [[Elizabeth Paepcke|Elizabeth]]. The [[Aspen Skiing Company]] was founded in 1946 and the city quickly became a well-known resort, hosting the [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1950|FIS World Championships in 1950]]. Paepcke also played an important role in bringing the Goethe Bicentennial Convocation to Aspen in 1949, an event held in a newly designed tent by the architect [[Eero Saarinen]]. Aspen was then on the path to becoming an internationally known [[Colorado ski resorts|ski resort]] and cultural center, home of the [[Aspen Music Festival and School]]. The area would continue to grow with the development of three additional ski areas, [[Buttermilk (ski area)|Buttermilk]] (1958), [[Aspen Highlands]] (1958), and [[Snowmass (ski area)|Snowmass]] (1967).

In the 1970s, Aspen became known as a playground for the rich and famous. Notable celebrities frequented the town and ski slopes, also John Denver was one of the more famous permanent residents. In 1978, Aspen was thoroughly photographed for the [[Aspen Movie Map]] project funded by the [[U.S. Department of Defense]]. The Movie Map is one of the earliest examples of [[virtual reality]] software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/411453/d-j-view/|title=Déjà View|last=SM '07|first=Erica Naone|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>

In 1999, the city council passed a resolution to petition the US Congress and [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]] to restrict US immigration. Aspen residents cited concerns about the environmental impacts of increased immigration on their community, including urban and suburban sprawl, pollution from the older automobiles typically driven by immigrants, and litter accumulating in the mountains attributable to the increasing population. The impetus for the resolution was the increasing number of trailer parks that housed the migrant workers employed locally in the service sector and ski industry. The parks were perceived to be degrading to the town's image, property values, and environment. The move was led by Terry Paulson, an Aspen City Council member, and supported and guided by national groups such as the Carrying Capacity Network, and the [[Center for Immigration Studies]]. The resolution was discussed on the ''American Patrol Report'' website, contributing to a controversy over whether or not the resolution was racially motivated. Councilman Terry Paulson and some Aspen citizens insisted that it was motivated entirely by environmental concerns.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Slums of Aspen|last1 = Park|first1 = Lisa Sun-Hee|last2 = Pellow|first2 = David Naguib|publisher = New York University Press|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-8147-6803-7}}</ref>

Aspen is notable as the smallest [[List of United States radio markets|radio market]] tracked by [[Arbitron]], ranked number 302.

Local media in Aspen include a public radio station, KJAX,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/|title=Aspen Public Radio|website=www.aspenpublicradio.org}}</ref> a public television station, the Grassroots TV network;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grassrootstv.org/|title=GrassRoots Community Network|website=GrassRoots Community}}</ref> three commercial radio stations, [[KSNO]], [[KTND]], and [[KSPN-FM|KSPN]]; two daily newspapers, ''[[Aspen Times|The Aspen Times]]'' and ''[[Aspen Daily News|The Aspen Daily News]]''; three local lifestyle magazines, ''Aspen Sojourner'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspensojo.com/|title=Aspen Sojourner|website=Aspen Sojourner}}</ref> ''[[Aspen Magazine]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aspenmagazine.com/|title=Maintenance|website=www.aspenmagazine.com|access-date=June 17, 2011|archive-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175256/http://www.aspenmagazine.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the biannual ''[[Aspen Peak]]''; and a local, live, commercial lifestyle television channel, Aspen 82.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aspen82.com/about-us/|title=Aspen 82, About us|website=Aspen82|access-date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>

===Image===
[[File:Aspen Art Museum by Shigeru Ban.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aspen Art Museum]] (2015)]]
The city's character has transformed dramatically in recent decades by skyrocketing property values and the proliferation of second homes, increasingly shutting low- and middle-income workers out of the city and creating a large pool of commuters from nearby [[bedroom community|bedroom communities]] such as [[Snowmass, Colorado|Snowmass]], [[Basalt, Colorado|Basalt]], [[Carbondale, Colorado|Carbondale]], and [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado|Glenwood Springs]]. At the same time, in stark contrast to its historic character, the city has emerged into international fame as a glitzy playground of the wealthy and famous. Aspen has become a second and third home to many international jet-setters. Many people from the U.S. and abroad vacation in Aspen, especially during the winter.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/03/wealthy-aspen-legends |title = How Aspen became the billionaire's retreat|magazine = Vanity Fair|date = January 23, 2014|issue = March|last1 = Seal|first1 = Mark}}</ref>

The downtown has been largely transformed into an [[luxury goods|upscale shopping]] district that includes high-end restaurants, salons, and boutiques.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.discoverourtown.com/CO/Aspen/Shopping-1317.html |title = Shopping Aspen CO Colorado + Outlet Mall - City Guide}}</ref> Stores such as [[Gucci]], [[Prada]] and [[Fendi]] dot South Mill Street and act as a "Rodeo Drive" of Aspen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-shop-aspen|title=How to Shop Aspen, the West's Weird Luxury Oasis|date=February 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
The city sits along the southeast (upper) end of the Roaring Fork Valley, along the [[Roaring Fork River]], a tributary of the [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]] about {{convert|40|mi|km}} south of [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado]]. It is surrounded by mountain and wilderness areas on three sides: Red Mountain to the north, Smuggler Mountain to the east, and [[Aspen Mountain (Colorado)|Aspen Mountain]] to the south.

Aspen is located along [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]].

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|9.992|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Aspen has a [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen: ''Dfb''). It has a large [[diurnal temperature variation]] with moderately warm summer days very cold winter nights. Summer lows and winter highs are relatively moderate, and frosts are rare in summer and winter days often averaging above freezing.
{{Weather box
|location = Aspen, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 60
|Mar record high F = 68
|Apr record high F = 74
|May record high F = 86
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 91
|Aug record high F = 88
|Sep record high F = 86
|Oct record high F = 78
|Nov record high F = 70
|Dec record high F = 62
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 48.6
|Feb avg record high F = 51.7
|Mar avg record high F = 59.4
|Apr avg record high F = 67.3
|May avg record high F = 76.1
|Jun avg record high F = 82.8
|Jul avg record high F = 85.4
|Aug avg record high F = 83.4
|Sep avg record high F = 79.5
|Oct avg record high F = 72.9
|Nov avg record high F = 60.6
|Dec avg record high F = 50.2
|year avg record high F = 85.8

|Jan high F = 32.0
|Feb high F = 35.3
|Mar high F = 42.7
|Apr high F = 49.7
|May high F = 60.0
|Jun high F = 70.6
|Jul high F = 75.5
|Aug high F = 73.1
|Sep high F = 66.9
|Oct high F = 55.2
|Nov high F = 41.6
|Dec high F = 31.9
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 20.9
|Feb mean F = 23.9
|Mar mean F = 31.2
|Apr mean F = 38.1
|May mean F = 47.5
|Jun mean F = 56.4
|Jul mean F = 61.8
|Aug mean F = 60.1
|Sep mean F = 53.4
|Oct mean F = 42.5
|Nov mean F = 30.5
|Dec mean F = 21.1
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 9.9
|Feb low F = 12.5
|Mar low F = 19.8
|Apr low F = 26.6
|May low F = 35.0
|Jun low F = 42.2
|Jul low F = 48.1
|Aug low F = 47.1
|Sep low F = 40.0
|Oct low F = 29.8
|Nov low F = 19.4
|Dec low F = 10.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -6.4
|Feb avg record low F = -4.5
|Mar avg record low F = 2.7
|Apr avg record low F = 12.3
|May avg record low F = 22.6
|Jun avg record low F = 31.2
|Jul avg record low F = 40.2
|Aug avg record low F = 39.5
|Sep avg record low F = 28.1
|Oct avg record low F = 13.1
|Nov avg record low F = 1.3
|Dec avg record low F = -7.7
|year avg record low F = -10.9

|Jan record low F = −20
|Feb record low F = −25
|Mar record low F = −14
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 15
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 29
|Aug record low F = 29
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = −5
|Nov record low F = −13
|Dec record low F = −23
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.93
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.23
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.59
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.68
|May precipitation inch = 2.17
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.06
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.97
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.75
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.89
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.09
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.09
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.00
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 12.7
|Mar precipitation days = 11.3
|Apr precipitation days = 13.0
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 6.9
|Jul precipitation days = 11.3
|Aug precipitation days = 12.5
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 9.4
|Nov precipitation days = 9.9
|Dec precipitation days = 12.2
|year precipitation days =

|Jan snow inch = 28.1
|Feb snow inch = 28.3
|Mar snow inch = 26.9
|Apr snow inch = 20.9
|May snow inch = 7.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.4
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 1.0
|Oct snow inch = 10.2
|Nov snow inch = 20.5
|Dec snow inch = 27.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 12.0
|Feb snow days = 11.6
|Mar snow days = 9.5
|Apr snow days = 8.4
|May snow days = 2.5
|Jun snow days = 0.2
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.7
|Oct snow days = 4.0
|Nov snow days = 8.3
|Dec snow days = 11.3

|Jan snow depth inch = 29.1
|Feb snow depth inch = 36.5
|Mar snow depth inch = 35.3
|Apr snow depth inch = 21.2
|May snow depth inch = 4.2
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.2
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.5
|Oct snow depth inch = 5.0
|Nov snow depth inch = 11.3
|Dec snow depth inch = 19.2
|year snow depth inch = 39.0

|Jan humidity = 62.9
|Feb humidity = 60.0
|Mar humidity = 54.1
|Apr humidity = 50.1
|May humidity = 46.9
|Jun humidity = 42.8
|Jul humidity = 47.4
|Aug humidity = 52.3
|Sep humidity = 50.6
|Oct humidity = 52.3
|Nov humidity = 59.7
|Dec humidity = 64.5

|Jand sun = 7
|Febd sun = 8
|Mard sun = 8
|Aprd sun = 9
|Mayd sun = 10
|Jund sun = 11
|Juld sun = 10
|Augd sun = 9
|Sepd sun = 9
|Octd sun = 8
|Novd sun = 6
|Decd sun = 6

|Jan uv = 2
|Feb uv = 4
|Mar uv = 6
|Apr uv = 8
|May uv = 10
|Jun uv = 11
|Jul uv = 11
|Aug uv = 10
|Sep uv = 8
|Oct uv = 5
|Nov uv = 3
|Dec uv = 2

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050372&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Aspen 1SW, CO
|access-date = November 26, 2022
}}
</ref><ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 26, 2022
}}
</ref> Weatherbase (humidity)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=79257&cityname=Aspen,+Colorado,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Aspen, Colorado Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> Weather Atlas (daily sunshine hours and UV index)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/colorado-usa/aspen-climate|title=Aspen, CO - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Henry Webber House, Aspen, CO.jpg|thumb|right|Henry Webber House (2010)]]
[[File:The John Denver Sanctuary in Rio Grande Park, Aspen, Colorado.jpg|thumb|The John Denver Sanctuary in Rio Grande Park]]
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 5108
|1900= 3303
|1910= 1834
|1920= 1265
|1930= 705
|1940= 777
|1950= 916
|1960= 1101
|1970= 2437
|1980= 3678
|1990= 5049
|2000= 5914
|2010= 6658
|2020= 7004
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}{{nonspecific|date=July 2017}}</ref> of 2003, there were 5,914 people, 2,903 households, and 1,082 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,675.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,354 housing units at an average density of 1,233.5 per square mile (476.2 per km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.94 percent [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.44 percent [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.24 percent [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.45 percent [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08 percent [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.64 percent from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.2 percent from two or more races. [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.14 percent of the population.

There were 2,903 households, of which 16.5 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8 percent were [[marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.6 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 62.7 percent were non-families. Single individuals composed 43.8 percent of all households, and 4.8 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.67.

The ages of the population were 13.1 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 42.1 percent from 25 to 44, 27.6 percent from 45 to 64, and 7.4 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,750, and the median income for a family was $70,300. Males had a median income of $41,011 versus $32,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $40,680. About 3.6 percent of families and 8.2 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4 percent of those under age 18 and 2.6 percent of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

===Housing===
Aspen's single-family home prices are among the highest of any town in the country. Real estate supply is restricted due to a moratorium on new housing construction, housing renovation and short-term rentals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Jason |date=December 9, 2021 |title=Aspen suspends new home construction permits as it drops the hammer in the name of affordability |url=http://coloradosun.com/2021/12/09/aspen-emergency-ordinance-permits-residential-construction-strs/ |website=[[The Colorado Sun]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Lori and William |title=Small: 2022 real estate predictions: Is the market about to shift? |url=https://www.aspendailynews.com/business/small-2022-real-estate-predictions-is-the-market-about-to-shift/article_599fff92-7cb9-11ec-9eb6-c33ab861992f.html |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Aspen Daily News |date=January 24, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The median sales price of a single family home in 2021 in Aspen was $9.5 million.<ref name=":1" /> A 2023 study by Savills, a global real estate broker, declared that prime Aspen real estate was the most expensive on a per-square-foot-basis of the 44 global ski resort markets it studied.<ref name="savills" />

Relatively less expensive housing can be found outside the city limits, in nearby Snowmass Village (median single family home price $5.2 million in 2021),<ref name=":1" /> or in the city's condos, many of which date to the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 8, 2021|title=Estin Report Aspen Snowmass Real Estate 2021 ws|url=https://www.estinaspen.com/estin-reports/estin-report-aspen-snowmass-real-estate-ws-2021/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Tim Estin|language=en-US|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506231010/https://www.estinaspen.com/estin-reports/estin-report-aspen-snowmass-real-estate-ws-2021/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Affordability of housing is a severe challenge for workers in the Aspen area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2021 |title=Skyrocketing Real Estate Prices Could Bring "Significant Cultural Change" To Aspen And Snowmass |url=https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/2021-05-17/skyrocketing-real-estate-prices-could-bring-significant-cultural-change-to-aspen-and-snowmass |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Aspen Public Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority oversees an extensive program of properties intended for people who primarily live and work in the [[Roaring Fork Valley]] and whose income falls below certain limits, known as Employee Housing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=APCHA, CO {{!}} Official Website|url=https://www.apcha.org/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=www.apcha.org}}</ref> Homes purchased through Employee Housing programs typically contain deed restrictions to maintain a degree of affordability for local residents, but even deed-restricted properties in the area can cost close to $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Kaya|title=Coffey Place lottery to offer deed-restricted housing in Snowmass|url=https://www.aspentimes.com/snowmass/coffey-place-lottery-to-offer-deed-restricted-housing-in-snowmass/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=www.aspentimes.com|date=January 13, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:2017 World Cup Ski Run, Aspen.jpg|thumb|Ski Run from the 2017 World Cup]]
The [[Winter X Games]] sports event has been held in Aspen at [[Buttermilk (ski area)]] since 2002. Aspen natives [[Torin Yater-Wallace]] and [[Alex Ferreira]] are both [[freestyle skiers]] who compete in the Winter X Games and have very successful careers. Both Torin and Alex have represented the United States of America in Men's Ski SuperPipe at the [[Olympic Games]].

The [[Gentlemen of Aspen RFC|Gentlemen of Aspen]] is the local rugby team. The Gentlemen of Aspen won the [[Rugby Super League (United States)|Rugby Super League]] several times: 1997, 2001, 2002.

==Government==
[[File:Aspen City Hall.jpg|thumb|City Hall, formerly Armory Hall|alt=A brick building with trapezoidal roof overhanging the sidewalk on its right side at an intersection. Signs say it is at the 100 block of South Galena Street and the 500 block of East Hopkins Avenue.]]

Aspen is a [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun /> under Colorado law. It has a [[council-manager government]]. An elected council of four members and the mayor supervise the city's operations, managed on a day-to-day basis by the city manager, an appointed official who serves at their pleasure.

The city's main office is at City Hall, the former Armory Hall listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] at the intersection of South Galena Street and East Hopkins Avenue. Because of its expansion in the late-20th century, it has outgrown that space. Several city departments are housed in satellite offices around the city.

==Education==
{{as of|2012}}, based on data from the 2009–10 school year, according to ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', [[Aspen High School]], the only high school in the [[Aspen School District]], is the top ranked high school in Colorado and ranked 59th in the United States. The high school has grades 9 to 12, 540 students, and 41 teachers. Olympic cross-country skier [[Noah Hoffman]] is a 2007 graduate.

Minorities, mostly Hispanic, make up 13 percent of the school's enrollment. Four percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. The school has a high rate of participation in the [[IB Diploma Programme|International Baccalaureate program]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Aspen High School Overview|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/colorado/districts/aspen-school-district-no-1-in-the-county-of-pitkin-and-sta/aspen-high-school-3974|access-date=June 4, 2012|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

==Transportation==
* [[Roaring Fork Transportation Authority]], or RFTA, provides free bus service within Aspen and Snowmass Village, and pay service to the surrounding communities of Basalt, El Jebel, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle. [[Amtrak]] serves [[Glenwood Springs (Amtrak station)|Glenwood Springs]], offering in conjunction with RFTA an environmentally friendly way to travel to Aspen.
* Aspen's airport is [[Aspen-Pitkin County Airport]], also known as Sardy Field. The airport is an FAA Class 1 airport and has one asphalt runway, {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|8006|ft|m|abbr=on}} long. The airport is commercially serviced by [[American Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], and [[United Airlines]].
* [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]] is the only major road that provides access to Aspen. There are some mountain pass roads that lead to the city, but those require all-terrain vehicles and are typically impassable during the winter. Highway 82 east of Aspen is also impassable due to snow on [[Independence Pass (Colorado)|Independence Pass]], leaving Highway 82 west of Aspen as the only means of motor vehicle access during the winter. Highway 82 east of Aspen is typically closed from approximately the end of October to Memorial Day, depending on snow conditions.
* The [[Bike sharing|bike-sharing system]] WE-CYCLE serves Aspen and [[Basalt, Colorado|Basalt]] with 16 stations and 200 bikes. Docking stations and bikes are built by [[PBSC Urban Solutions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aspentimes.com/news/6728593-113/bike-cycle-aspen-sharing|title=Bike sharing comes to Aspen {{!}} AspenTimes.com|website=The Aspen Times|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref>

== Historic buildings ==
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
File:Aspen Community church south facade.jpg|[[Aspen Community Church]]
File:Aspen Wheeler Opera House.jpg|[[Wheeler Opera House]]
File:Pitkin County Courthouse Aspen 2015.jpg|[[Pitkin County Courthouse]]
File:Aspen Armory Hall or Fraternal Hall.jpg|Armory Hall or Fraternal Hall ([[Aspen City Hall]])
File:Aspen Elks building.jpg|Elks building
File:Aspen Cowenhaven Ute City Banque building.jpg|Cowenhoven Ute City Banque building
File:Aspen Independence building.jpg|Independence building
File:Aspen Hotel Jerome.jpg|[[Hotel Jerome]]
</gallery>

==Sister cities==
Aspen's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Aspen's Sister Cities|url=https://aspenchamber.org/about/aspens-sister-cities|publisher=Aspen Chamber Resort Association|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Abetone Cutigliano]], Italy
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Bariloche]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Chamonix|Chamonix-Mont-Blanc]], France
*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Davos]], Switzerland
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Garmisch-Partenkirchen]], Germany
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]], New Zealand
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shimukappu]], Japan
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Aspen, Colorado}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Aspen anomaly]]
*[[The Aspen Business Luncheon]]
*[[Aspen Center for Physics]]
*[[Aspen Institute]]
*[[Aspen/Snowmass]]
*[[Colorado Silver Boom]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Rifle, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Smuggler Mine]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Berger, Bruce. ''The Complete Half-Aspenite'' WHO Press, 2005, {{ISBN|1-882426-22-3}}
* Rohrbough, Malcolm. ''Aspen: The History of a Silver Mining Town 1879–1893'' Oxford University Press, 1988, {{ISBN|0-19-505428-8}}
* Wentworth, Frank L. ''Aspen on the Roaring Fork'', Sundance Publication, hardcover, {{ISBN|0-913582-15-8}} (earlier editions exist)

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.aspen.gov/ City of Aspen]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Pitkin County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Roaring Fork Valley}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Aspen, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Pitkin County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Roaring Fork Valley]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Colorado]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1879]]

Akron, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:17:00Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|Statutory town and seat of Washington County, Colorado, United States}}
{{Infobox settlement

|name = Akron, Colorado
|settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>


|image_skyline = Akron, Colorado.JPG
|image_caption = Entering Akron from the east (2013)
|image_flag =
|image_seal =


|image_map = Washington County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Akron Highlighted 0800925.svg
|map_caption = Location within [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]] and [[Colorado]]
|image_map1 =
|map_caption1 =


|pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief =
|pushpin_label = Akron
|pushpin_label_position = top
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Akron, Colorado


|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=182984|name=Akron, Colorado|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|coordinates = {{coord|40.1605|-103.2144|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-182984|display=it}}
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County seat]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>


|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|statutory town]]<ref name=COMun />
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 =
|established_title = 
|established_date =
|established_title2 = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2 = September 22, 1887<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|established_title3 = 
|established_date3 =


|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi = 2.77
|area_land_sq_mi = 2.77
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|area_total_km2 = 7.18
|area_land_km2 = 7.18
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|unit_pref = Imperial

|elevation_ft = 4659
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>


|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 1757
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|population_density_sq_mi = 633.84
|population_density_km2 = 244.70


|timezone1 = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset1 = −07:00
|timezone1_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset1_DST = −06:00

|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code = 80720<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|date=August 18, 2007 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=August 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818145107/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|area_code = [[Area code 970|970]]
|blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info = {{GNIS 4|182984}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2412340}}
|blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|00925}}
|website = {{URL|https://townofakron.colorado.gov/|Town website}}
}}

'''Akron''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Washington County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name=CountySeatsCO>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html|title=Colorado County Seats|publisher=[[State of Colorado]], Department of Public Health and Environment|access-date=December 31, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080108104015/http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html| archive-date= January 8, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The town population was 1,757 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
Akron was [[plat]]ted in 1882.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/Place_Names_of_Colorado.pdf | title=Place Names of Colorado | publisher=Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies | date=1999 | access-date=July 1, 2019 | pages=5 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027102334/https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/Place_Names_of_Colorado.pdf | archive-date=October 27, 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Originally, Akron was a small camp on the railroad, being halfway between [[McCook, Nebraska|McCook]] and [[Denver]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us {{!}} Town of Akron |url=https://townofakron.colorado.gov/home/about-us#:~:text=Akron%2520began%2520as%2520a%2520small,word%2520meaning%2520%E2%80%9Can%2520elevation%E2%80%9D. |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=townofakron.colorado.gov}}</ref> The community was named after [[Akron, Ohio]], the native home of the wife of a railroad employee.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=11|year=1954|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=5}}</ref> The Akron, Colorado, post office opened on January 30, 1883.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]] was created on February 9, 1887, with Akron as its first and only seat.<ref name=COcounty/> The Town of Akron was incorporated on September 22, 1887.<ref name=COMun/>
[[File:HotelAkronPostcardAkronColorado.jpg|thumb|left|Hotel Akron, from a postcard sent in 1908]]
{{clear|left}}

==Geography==
Akron is located at the intersection of [[U.S. Highway 34 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 34]] and [[Colorado State Highway 63|State Highway 63]] at coordinates {{coord|40.1605|-103.2144|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=inline}}.<ref name=GNIS/>

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|7.180|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Akron experiences a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with cold, dry winters and hot, dry summers.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=63537&cityname=Akron%2C+Colorado%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Akron, Colorado]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Akron, Colorado ([[Colorado Plains Regional Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 74
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 80

|Jan avg record high F = 61.2
|Feb avg record high F = 65.5
|Mar avg record high F = 75.7
|Apr avg record high F = 82.2
|May avg record high F = 89.2
|Jun avg record high F = 96.9
|Jul avg record high F = 99.9
|Aug avg record high F = 97.6
|Sep avg record high F = 93.8
|Oct avg record high F = 84.8
|Nov avg record high F = 73.0
|Dec avg record high F = 62.3
|year avg record high F = 100.9

|Jan high F = 41.1
|Feb high F = 43.5
|Mar high F = 54.1
|Apr high F = 60.9
|May high F = 70.5
|Jun high F = 82.5
|Jul high F = 88.7
|Aug high F = 86.5
|Sep high F = 78.3
|Oct high F = 63.8
|Nov high F = 50.9
|Dec high F = 41.1
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 29.1
|Feb mean F = 31.3
|Mar mean F = 40.5
|Apr mean F = 47.2
|May mean F = 56.9
|Jun mean F = 68.2
|Jul mean F = 74.5
|Aug mean F = 72.5
|Sep mean F = 64.1
|Oct mean F = 50.2
|Nov mean F = 38.3
|Dec mean F = 29.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 17.2
|Feb low F = 19.0
|Mar low F = 26.8
|Apr low F = 33.5
|May low F = 43.4
|Jun low F = 53.8
|Jul low F = 60.3
|Aug low F = 58.5
|Sep low F = 49.9
|Oct low F = 36.6
|Nov low F = 25.8
|Dec low F = 17.5
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -3.8
|Feb avg record low F = -0.5
|Mar avg record low F = 9.3
|Apr avg record low F = 17.9
|May avg record low F = 29.4
|Jun avg record low F = 43.2
|Jul avg record low F = 51.7
|Aug avg record low F = 48.9
|Sep avg record low F = 35.9
|Oct avg record low F = 18.9
|Nov avg record low F = 6.6
|Dec avg record low F = -2.9
|year avg record low F = -10.4

|Jan record low F = -28
|Feb record low F = -29
|Mar record low F = -21
|Apr record low F = -3
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 28
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 17
|Oct record low F = 0
|Nov record low F = -11
|Dec record low F = -25

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.17
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.20
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.71
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.43
|May precipitation inch = 2.65
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.24
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.78
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.36
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.24
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.99
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.42
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.20
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 5.6
|Feb snow inch = 5.1
|Mar snow inch = 8.6
|Apr snow inch = 5.4
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.9
|Oct snow inch = 2.7
|Nov snow inch = 7.8
|Dec snow inch = 6.9
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.2
|Feb precipitation days = 3.4
|Mar precipitation days = 5.4
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 10.7
|Jun precipitation days = 9.6
|Jul precipitation days = 10.4
|Aug precipitation days = 9.2
|Sep precipitation days = 6.2
|Oct precipitation days = 6.0
|Nov precipitation days = 4.1
|Dec precipitation days = 2.8

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.9
|Feb snow days = 4.1
|Mar snow days = 4.9
|Apr snow days = 2.7
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.5
|Oct snow days = 1.7
|Nov snow days = 4.4
|Dec snow days = 4.1

|source 1 = National Weather Service<ref name=NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 7, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA(average snowfall/snowy days 1981–2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024015&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1991–2020)
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00024015&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1981–2010)
}}
</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 559
|1900= 351
|1910= 647
|1920= 1401
|1930= 1135
|1940= 1417
|1950= 1605
|1960= 1890
|1970= 1775
|1980= 1716
|1990= 1599
|2000= 1711
|2010= 1702
|2020= 1757
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]] there were 1,711 people in 734 households, including 457 families, in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,179.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 835 housing units at an average density of {{convert|575.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 93.51% White, 0.12% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.32% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.75%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>

Of the 734 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.8% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median household income was $29,420 and the median family income was $35,156. Males had a median income of $25,875 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,772. About 8.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.{{clear|left}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
* [https://townofakron.colorado.gov/ Town of Akron website]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Washington County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Washington County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]

Delta, Colorado

2025-10-14T05:16:14Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Short description|City in Colorado, US}}
{{Distinguish|Delta County, Colorado}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement

|name = Delta, Colorado
|settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>
|nickname = City of Murals
|motto =


| image_skyline = Delta-Main1.jpg
| image_caption = Main Street in Delta (2005)
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_shield =
| image_map = Delta County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Delta Highlighted 0819850.svg
| map_caption = Location within [[Delta County, Colorado|Delta County]] and [[Colorado]]

<
|pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief =
|pushpin_label = Delta
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Delta


|coordinates = {{coord|38.7422|-108.0690|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-185516|name=Delta, Colorado|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=185516|name=Delta, Colorado|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft = 4961
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Delta County, Colorado|Delta]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>


|government_type = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun/>
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Kevin Carlson
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| established_title2 = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = October 24, 1882<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 =


|unit_pref = US
|total_type = Total
|area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 35.043
|area_land_km2 = 34.378
|area_water_km2 = 0.665


|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total = 9,035
|population_density_sq_mi = 681


|timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset = −07:00
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = −06:00
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>
|postal_code = 81416
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code = [[Area codes 970/748|970/748]]
|blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS place ID]]
|blank_info = {{GNIS 4|185516}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS city ID]]
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2410319}}
|blank2_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|19850}}
|website = {{URL|cityofdelta.net}}
}}

'''Delta''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] that is the [[county seat]] of and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Delta County, Colorado|Delta County]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city population was 9,035 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> The [[United States Forest Service]] headquarters of the [[Grand Mesa National Forest|Grand Mesa]], [[Gunnison National Forest|Gunnison]], and [[Uncompahgre National Forest|Uncompahgre]] [[United States National Forest|National Forests]] are located in Delta.

==History==
Delta was built as a trading post for the [[Ute people]] and early settlers. [[Fort Uncompahgre]] was built in 1828.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx| title= A History & Heritage Hotbed| publisher= Delta County Colorado Tourism| access-date= September 7, 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120702112422/http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx| archive-date= July 2, 2012| url-status= dead}}</ref>

The Delta, Colorado, post office opened on January 5, 1882,<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> and the Town of Delta was incorporated on October 24, 1882.<ref name=COMun/> The town was named because of its location on the [[river delta|delta]] where the [[Uncompahgre River]] flows into the [[Gunnison River]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|year=1954|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=23|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=17}}</ref>

==Geography==
Delta is located in southwestern Delta County at coordinates {{coord|38.7422|-108.0690|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-185516|name=Delta, Colorado}} and elevation {{convert|4961|ft|0}}.<ref name=GNIS/> The downtown area is situated south of the Gunnison River and east of the Uncompahgre River. The city limits extend north across the Gunnison into the area now known as "North Delta", then west {{convert|6|mi|0}} along [[U.S. Route 50]] as far as Westwinds Airport.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|35.043|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.665|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

Delta is part of the [[Colorado Western Slope]] region.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 470
|1900= 819
|1910= 2388
|1920= 2623
|1930= 2938
|1940= 3717
|1950= 4097
|1960= 3832
|1970= 3694
|1980= 3931
|1990= 3789
|2000= 6400
|2010= 8915
|2020= 9035
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,915 people, 3,530 households, and 2,337 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,682.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,825 housing units at an average density of {{convert|721.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 12.5% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 3.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 26.1% of the population.

There were 3,530 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
{{clear|left}}

==Art and culture==
[[File:Egyptian theatre exterior.jpg|thumb|Historic [[Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado)|Egyptian Theatre]] (2012)]]

[[Fort Uncompahgre]] was built in 1828, established as a fur trading post by [[Antoine Robidoux]]. Tour guides dress in period attire and trap beavers, make [[buckskins]], knap [[arrowhead]]s, and work the [[forge]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html | title= Step back in time… | publisher= About Delta Colorado | access-date= July 7, 2012 | archive-date= October 16, 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221016062015/http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html | url-status= dead }}</ref>

===Tourism===
Parks:
* Pow Wow Arbor
* Mountain View Pavilion
* Riley Pavilion / Cleland Park
* Shade Pavilion Island
* Cottonwood Park
* Emerald Hills Park<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104840/http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==
Delta is part of the [[Delta County Joint School District 50-J]], which covers all of Delta County,<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08029_delta/DC20SD_C08029.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delta County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 17, 2020|access-date=2025-08-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08029_delta/DC20SD_C08029_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
including [[Cedaredge]], [[Crawford, Colorado|Crawford]], [[Hotchkiss, Colorado|Hotchkiss]], and [[Paonia, Colorado|Paonia]]. The school district serves 4,792 students as of the 2020-2021 academic year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deltaschools.com/index.php |website=Delta County School District |access-date=November 26, 2020|title=Home - Delta County Joint District No. 50 }}</ref>

Delta is also home to Technical College of the Rockies, a small trade school serving roughly 300 students annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tcr.edu/ |title=Home - Technical College of the Rockies |website=tcr.edu}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[Montrose Regional Airport]], located {{convert|21|mi}} south of Delta, is the closest airport served by scheduled airlines. In [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]], which is {{Convert|39|mi}} to the north, there are also scheduled airline services, as well as an [[Amtrak]] train station with a daily ''[[California Zephyr]]'' departure in each direction. Delta is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 50.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]] runs east-west, crossing 12 states and linking [[Sacramento, California]], with [[Ocean City, Maryland]]. In [[Colorado]], it passes through Delta as Main Street and connects the city to [[Montrose, Colorado|Montrose]], [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]] and [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]].
*[[Image:Colorado 65.svg|25px]] [[Colorado State Highway 65|State Highway 65]] is a {{convert|61|mi|adj=on}} stretch that runs north from [[Colorado State Highway 92|State Highway 92]] east of Delta, over the [[Grand Mesa]], to [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]] near [[Palisade, Colorado|Palisade]].
*[[Image:Colorado 92.svg|25px]] [[Colorado State Highway 92|State Highway 92]] begins in Delta, at the intersection of Main Street and First Street. It runs {{convert|73|mi}} to the east, re-encountering US 50 near [[Blue Mesa Reservoir]] and [[Curecanti National Recreation Area]].

===Health care===
[[Delta County Memorial Hospital]] serves the city and the surrounding area. In addition to the main hospital, seven specialty clinics are available.<ref name=hospital>{{cite web |url=http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us |title=Our history |author= |date=2020 |website=Delta County Memorial Hospital |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629085826/http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Media==
The principal newspaper is the ''Delta County Independent'',<ref>[https://www.deltacountyindependent.com/ Delta County Independent.]</ref> which is published weekly on Wednesdays. Local readers also enjoy ''The High Country Spotlight & Shopper'', a free paper that distributes over 15,000 copies throughout the county.

==Notable people==
*[[Chuck Cottier]], baseball player and manager
*[[Dale Ishimoto]], American actor
*[[Frank H. Ono]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
*[[Matt Soper]], Colorado Representative, House District 54
*[[Felix L. Sparks]], [[Colorado Supreme Court]] justice, [[U.S. Army]] colonel
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Borowsky, Larry and Cleary, Brooke, "Delta's King of Kings: The Egyptian Theatre and the Bank Night Craze". ''Colorado Heritage'' Summer 2002: pp. 2–15
* Ferguson, Olivia Spalding, "A Sketch of Delta County History". ''The Colorado Magazine'' 5 (October 1928): pp. 161–164
*{{cite book |last1=Weber |first1=William |last2=Wittmann |first2=Ronald |title=Colorado flora [electronic resource], Western slope : a field guide to the vascular plants / William A. Weber, Ronald C. Wittmann |date=2012 |publisher=Boulder, Colo. : University Press of Colorado 2012 |location=Boulder, Colorado |isbn=9781607321439 |pages=532}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
* [https://cityofdelta.net/ City of Delta website]
* [http://www.deltacolorado.org/ Delta Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Delta County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Delta County, Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado Western Slope]]
[[Category:Gunnison River]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]

Snyder, Texas

2025-10-14T04:57:06Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Snyder, Texas
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| nickname =
| motto = 
| image_skyline = Downtown Snyder, TX IMG 4585.JPG|
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Downtown Snyder
| image_flag =
| image_seal = 
| image_map = Scurry County Snyder.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location of Snyder, Texas

| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Scurry County, Texas|Scurry]]

| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title =
| established_date = 
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 23.23
| area_land_km2 = 23.15
| area_water_km2 = 0.08
| area_total_sq_mi = 8.97
| area_land_sq_mi = 8.94
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.03

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 11438
| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset = −6
| timezone_DST = CDT
| utc_offset_DST = −5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 707
| elevation_ft = 2320
| coordinates = {{coord|32|42|56|N|100|54|52|W|type:city_region:US-TX|display=it}}
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code = 79549-79550
| area_code = [[Area code 325|325]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 48-68624<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1347340<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website = http://ci.snyder.tx.us/
| footnotes =
| pop_est_as_of = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/snydercitytexas|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref>
| population_est = 11230
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
}}

'''Snyder''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Scurry County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 11,438 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/snydercitytexas |access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref> The city is located in the lower part of the [[Southwestern Tablelands]] ecological region.

==History==
Snyder is named for merchant and buffalo hunter William Henry (Pete) Snyder, who built a trading post on Deep Creek in 1878. It soon drew fellow hunters, and a small settlement grew up around the post. The nature of those early dwellings, mostly constructed of buffalo hide and tree branches, led to the community's first, if unofficial, name of "Hide Town". Another early name, "Robber's Roost", is said to owe its beginnings to the sometimes nefarious nature of a few residents and a lack of law enforcement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiggins|first=Noel|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hes04|title=Snyder, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=14 June 2012}}</ref> A statue of an albino buffalo on the grounds of the Scurry County Courthouse in Snyder pays homage to the town's beginnings as a buffalo-trading post.

Snyder antedates Scurry County by two years, with a town plan being drawn up in 1882, while the county was not organized until 1884. A population of 600 was reported in 1892, with a school, two churches, a grist mill, steam gin, two banks, and two weekly newspapers being part of the community. Significant change happened in 1907 when Snyder was granted a city charter, and construction began on the [[Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway]]. The 1910 census indicated Snyder had grown to a population of 2,514. The [[Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway]] tracks reached Snyder in 1911, spurring further growth. Ranching and farming were the primary economic backbone of Snyder through the first half of the 20th century.

This changed in 1948, when oil was discovered in the Canyon Reef area north of town. Snyder became a [[boomtown]], as the population jumped to about 12,000 in just a year's time. By the time the boom ended in 1951, an estimated peak population of 16,000 had been reached. This soon decreased to the 10,000 to 11,000 level and stabilized. Although the boom was over, oil still remained a vital part of the local economy, with the Snyder area being one of the leading oil-producing areas in Texas. In 1973, the one-billionth barrel of oil was pumped from the nearby oil fields.

An industrial base was established in the 1960s and early 1970s, diversifying the town's economy and making it less susceptible to cycles of boom and bust. Higher education came to Snyder in 1971 with the founding of [[Western Texas College]].

The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, operated by Western Texas College since 2008, is a large arena which hosts area events. Outside the coliseum is a locomotive engine and a small restored historic village. Also located in Snyder is the Diamond M Museum. Established by local oilman and rancher Clarence T. McLaughlin, the museum houses over 80 bronze works and 200 paintings. Among the collection are works by [[Peter Hurd]] and [[Andrew Wyeth]].

==Geography==
Snyder is located on Deep Creek, a minor [[tributary]] of the [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]] of Texas.

Snyder is about {{convert|90|mi|km}} southeast of [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], {{convert|80|mi|km}} northwest of [[Abilene, TX|Abilene]], {{convert|90|mi|km}} northeast of [[Midland, Texas|Midland]], and {{convert|100|mi|km}} north of [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]].

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Snyder, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 86
| Feb record high F = 92
| Mar record high F = 99
| Apr record high F = 104
| May record high F = 110
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 115
| Sep record high F = 108
| Oct record high F = 102
| Nov record high F = 91
| Dec record high F = 87
| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 77.2
|Feb avg record high F = 81.3
|Mar avg record high F = 88.1
|Apr avg record high F = 93.6
|May avg record high F = 99.7
|Jun avg record high F = 101.8
|Jul avg record high F = 102.7
|Aug avg record high F = 101.6
|Sep avg record high F = 97.7
|Oct avg record high F = 92.5
|Nov avg record high F = 82.9
|Dec avg record high F = 76.7
|year avg record high F = 105.0

|Jan high F = 57.0
|Feb high F = 61.5
|Mar high F = 69.7
|Apr high F = 78.3
|May high F = 85.7
|Jun high F = 92.4
|Jul high F = 95.6
|Aug high F = 94.4
|Sep high F = 87.0
|Oct high F = 78.0
|Nov high F = 66.0
|Dec high F = 57.7
|year high F = 76.9
| Jan mean F = 43.0
| Feb mean F = 46.8
| Mar mean F = 55.0
| Apr mean F = 63.2
| May mean F = 72.1
| Jun mean F = 79.7
| Jul mean F = 82.9
| Aug mean F = 82.0
| Sep mean F = 74.5
| Oct mean F = 64.4
| Nov mean F = 52.2
| Dec mean F = 44.1
| year mean F = 63.3
|Jan low F = 28.3
|Feb low F = 31.9
|Mar low F = 39.2
|Apr low F = 47.4
|May low F = 58.3
|Jun low F = 66.3
|Jul low F = 69.6
|Aug low F = 68.7
|Sep low F = 61.3
|Oct low F = 50.5
|Nov low F = 38.2
|Dec low F = 28.8
|year low F = 49.0

|Jan avg record low F = 16.2
|Feb avg record low F = 19.3
|Mar avg record low F = 25.2
|Apr avg record low F = 34.0
|May avg record low F = 44.9
|Jun avg record low F = 58.9
|Jul avg record low F = 64.7
|Aug avg record low F = 63.2
|Sep avg record low F = 49.0
|Oct avg record low F = 35.5
|Nov avg record low F = 23.9
|Dec avg record low F = 17.1
|year avg record low F = 12.4

| Jan record low F = -10
| Feb record low F = -11
| Mar record low F = 5
| Apr record low F = 20
| May record low F = 29
| Jun record low F = 40
| Jul record low F = 52
| Aug record low F = 46
| Sep record low F = 35
| Oct record low F = 19
| Nov record low F = 4
| Dec record low F = -3
| year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.77
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.05
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.56
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.40
|May precipitation inch = 2.68
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.14
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.91
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.09
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.75
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.17
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.19
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.06
|year precipitation inch= 21.77
|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.5
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.4
|Dec snow inch = 0.8
|year snow inch = 1.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.5
| Feb precipitation days = 4.4
| Mar precipitation days = 5.3
| Apr precipitation days = 4.0
| May precipitation days = 6.8
| Jun precipitation days = 6.2
| Jul precipitation days = 4.6
| Aug precipitation days = 5.4
| Sep precipitation days = 5.6
| Oct precipitation days = 5.3
| Nov precipitation days = 3.7
| Dec precipitation days = 4.0
| year precipitation days = 58.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.0
| Feb snow days = 0.2
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.0
| Dec snow days = 0.3
| year snow days = 0.5
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=maf |title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = May 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00418433&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = April 26, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| align = right
| 1890 = 500
| 1910 = 2514
| 1920 = 2179
| 1930 = 3008
| 1940 = 3815
| 1950 = 12010
| 1960 = 13850
| 1970 = 11171
| 1980 = 12705
| 1990 = 12195
| 2000 = 10783
| 2010 = 11202
| 2020 = 11438
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 11230
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/snydercitytexas|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Snyder racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4868624&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|5,014
|43.84%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|375
|3.28%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|45
|0.39%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|74
|0.65%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|4
|0.03%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|24
|0.21%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|257
|2.25%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|5,645
|49.35%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''11,438'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 11,438 people, 4,360 households, and 2,843 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, 11,202 people, 4,128 households, and 2,880 families resided in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,256.8 people/sq mi (485.2/km{{sup|2}}). The 5,013 housing units averaged 584.3/sq mi (225.6/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 79.00% White, 4.69% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 13.68% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 31.8% of the population.

Of the 4,068 households, 34.9% had children under 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were not families. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the age distribution was 27.8% under 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,077, and for a family was $55,567. Males had a median income of $30,033 versus $17,609 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,296. About 13.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Snyder's economy is based on oil, gas, and wind industries. In 2012, 994 jobs were created in Snyder, leading to 20% job growth in the community, according to the Development Corporation of Snyder.<ref>{{cite web|title=$1 Billion Reasons to Look at Snyder, TX|url=http://www.developsnyder.com/images/uploads/Snyder_Texas_is_the_Place_You_Ought_To_Be.PDF|publisher=Development Corporation of Snyder|access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref>

The nearby Scurry Area Canyon Reef Operators oilfield is among the largest and most productive in the United States.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} Snyder is also located within the footprint of the recently discovered [[Cline Shale]].<ref name="Eady">{{cite news|last=Eady|first=Ashley|title=Exploration continues to fuel expectations for Cline Shale oil boom|url=http://lubbockonline.com/business/2012-11-28/exploration-continues-fuel-expectations-cline-shale-oil-boom#.Ua9Eq0DCaSo|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref> Two of the largest wind farms in the United States are located in Snyder area. Other industries in Snyder include manufacturing and cotton.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] operates the Snyder Distribution Center.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/manufacturing-logistics/transport/transport-snyder-warehs.htm Snyder Distribution Center]." [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.</ref>

==Education==
The [[Snyder Independent School District]] serves Snyder. The schools are Snyder Primary, Snyder Intermediate, Snyder Junior High School, Snyder Academy, Snyder Christian School, and Snyder High School.

[[Western Texas College]], a two-year community college, is located in Snyder. In addition to traditional academic courses, Western Texas College offers several career/technical programs, including communication design, early childhood education, electrical distribution systems, information technology, business management, petroleum technology, radio broadcasting, solar energy technology, turfgrass and landscape management, vocational nursing, and welding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Texas College - Degrees |url=https://www.wtc.edu/degrees.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=www.wtc.edu}}</ref> The [[Texas Legislature]] designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.|access-date=2024-09-22}}</ref>

==Notable people==


* [[Kevin Alejandro]] (born 1976), who starred in ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] as Santos and ''[[Southland (TV series)|Southland]]'' on [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] as Detective Nate Moretta, a recurring cast member of the [[HBO]] series ''[[True Blood]]'', and stars in [[CBS]] series ''[[Golden Boy (American TV series)|Golden Boy]]'' grew up in Snyder
* [[Powers Boothe]] (1948–2017), [[Emmy]]-Award-winning actor who portrayed the demonic [[clergyman]] [[Jim Jones]] in ''[[Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones]]'', Curly Bill in ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'', Joshua Foss in ''[[Sudden Death (1995 film)|Sudden Death]]'', and Senator Roark in ''[[Sin City (film)|Sin City]]'' is a native of Snyder
* [[Sonny Cumbie]] (born 1981), head football coach, [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech University]]. In 2004, as the starting quarterback for [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech University]], he led the nation in passing and total offense.
* [[Charlene Holt]], actress and model, starred in Western film ''[[El Dorado (1966 film)]]'' as Maudie, the love interest of [[Robert Mitchum]] and [[John Wayne]], was born in Snyder
* [[Dick Jones (actor)|Dick Jones]] (1927–2014), actor, starred in ''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]'' in [[Television syndication|syndication]] in 1955 as "Dickie" Jones, and was voice of title character in 1940 [[Disney]] film ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', is a native of Snyder
* [[Charley Lockhart]], born and raised in Snyder, was a politician - treasurer of Texas from 1931 to 1941, who received national media attention as a dwarf. He was known as "the smallest elected official in the biggest state"
* [[Brad Maule]] (born 1951), actor, best known for his longtime role as Dr. Tony Jones on the television daytime drama ''[[General Hospital]]'', which he played until February 2006, was born in [[Rotan, Texas]], but graduated from Snyder High School; he was a student of Jerry P. Worsham, who was theatre arts educator for several of Snyder's notable actors and actresses
* [[Dave McGinnis]], football coach, head coach of NFL's [[Arizona Cardinals]] from 2000–03, graduated in 1969 from [[Snyder High School (Texas)|Snyder High School]]
* [[Barry Tubb]], actor, was born in Snyder
* [[Christian Wiman]] (born 1966), Poet, Professor raised in Snyder



==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Revised Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, TX IMG_4550.JPG|The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, has been operated since 2008 by Western Texas College.
Image:Cogdell Hospital, Snyder, TX IMG 1782.JPG|Cogdell Memorial Hospital is located near Western Texas College in Snyder
Image:Ritz Theater in downtown Snyder IMG 4579.JPG|Ritz Theater in downtown Snyder
Image:J.C. Cornelius House, Snyder, TX IMG 4593.JPG|This 19th-century pioneer house, was constructed by physician and [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] veteran J.C. Cornelius. The restored home now serves as a museum.
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{notelist}}12 and 14 have bad links

==External links==
{{Commons category|Snyder, Texas}}
*[http://ci.snyder.tx.us/ City of Snyder]

{{Scurry County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Scurry County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]

Sterling City, Texas

2025-10-14T04:55:56Z

2600:1700:4640:D20:C456:9053:7849:78B7:

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Sterling City, Texas
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| nickname = The Windmill City
| motto = 
| image_skyline = Sterling City, TX downtown IMG_1415.JPG
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption = [[U.S. Highway 87]] as it passes through Sterling City, Texas
| image_flag =
| image_seal = 
| image_map = TXMap-doton-SterlingCity.PNG
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location of Sterling City, Texas
| image_map1 = Sterling County SterlingCity.svg
| mapsize1 = 250px
| map_caption1 = 
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sterling County, Texas|Sterling]]

| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title =
| established_date = 
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 2.54
| area_land_km2 = 2.54
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.98
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.98
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 1121
| population_density_km2 = 441.34
| population_density_sq_mi = 1143.88
| timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST = CDT
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 697
| elevation_ft = 2287
| coordinates = {{coord|31|50|21|N|100|59|9|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 76951
| area_code = [[Area code 325|325]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 48-70232<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1347899<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website = [http://www.sterlingcitytexas.com sterlingcitytexas.com]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Sterling City''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Sterling County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its population was 1,121 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Population and Housing Unit Counts, 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Sterling%20City%20city,%20Texas |publisher=}}</ref>

==History==
Sterling City was named for W.S. Sterling, a buffalo hunter and Indian fighter. Land for the new town was donated in January 1891 by R.C. Stewart, and was platted by H.B. Tarver in February. That same year, it was designated the seat of Sterling County. The town soon grew to 300 residents and had its own newspaper, a hotel, a post office, several other businesses, a school, and three churches.<ref name="texasescapes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasRailroads/Sterling-City-Texas-Depot.htm|title=Sterling City, Texas: Concho, San Saba & Llano Valley Railroad Station, Texas Historic Landmark.|website=www.texasescapes.com|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

Sterling City was a stop on the [[Santa Fe Railroad]] by 1910, but the service was eventually abandoned. The depot still exists as a tourist site.<ref name="texasescapes.com"/>

During [[World War II]], Sterling City's population decreased by 10%. When it was incorporated in August 1955, Sterling City had a population of some 800 and had added three more churches, a hospital, a bank, and a library.

On May 25, 1955, 15 [[United States Air Force]] personnel, flying in a [[Convair B-36 Peacemaker|B-36]] bomber under the callsign Abbot 27, perished in a crash near Sterling City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.gosanangelo.com/news/columnists/rick-smith-monument-remembers-crew-of-bomber-crash-ep-442219091-357817741.html|title=RICK SMITH: Monument remembers crew of bomber crash|website=gosanangelo.com|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

==Geography==

Sterling City is located on the [[Edwards Plateau]] in west-central Texas along the [[North Concho River]] at {{coord|31|50|21|N|100|59|9|W|type:city}} (31.839066, –100.985871).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is accessed by [[U.S. Route 87 in Texas|U.S. Highway 87]] and State Highways 158 and 163, and covers area of 0.98 sq mi (2.5 km{{sup|2}}), all land.

Windmills have been a feature of Sterling City since the early 20th century, when the town claimed to have more windmills per acre than any other place in the world, totaling some 300.<ref>Abernethy, Francis Edward. ''Built in Texas,'' Issue 42, ''University of North Texas Press,'' p. 215.</ref> Today, most of Sterling City's windmills are giant turbines in modern wind farms on a ridge approximately 20 miles northwest of the town and visible from U.S. Highway 87.<ref>Flippin, Perry. "[http://archive.gosanangelo.com/news/wind-powers-new-pioneers---rancher-leads-sterling-county-into-frontier-of-using-west-texas-gusts-to--358285071.html Wind Power's New Pioneers]." ''Standard-Times,'' 27 Aug. 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2019.</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Sterling City, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1963–2019)
| Jan record high F = 87
| Feb record high F = 94
| Mar record high F = 98
| Apr record high F = 102
| May record high F = 109
| Jun record high F = 112
| Jul record high F = 109
| Aug record high F = 108
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 104
| Nov record high F = 93
| Dec record high F = 86
| year record high F =
| Jan high F = 57.5
| Feb high F = 61.8
| Mar high F = 69.1
| Apr high F = 77.8
| May high F = 84.8
| Jun high F = 91.1
| Jul high F = 93.5
| Aug high F = 92.9
| Sep high F = 85.8
| Oct high F = 77.3
| Nov high F = 65.9
| Dec high F = 58.3
| year high F = 76.3
| Jan mean F = 43.7
| Feb mean F = 47.6
| Mar mean F = 55.3
| Apr mean F = 63.8
| May mean F = 72.9
| Jun mean F = 79.6
| Jul mean F = 82.3
| Aug mean F = 81.6
| Sep mean F = 74.2
| Oct mean F = 64.4
| Nov mean F = 52.5
| Dec mean F = 44.7
| year mean F = 63.6
| Jan low F = 29.9
| Feb low F = 33.5
| Mar low F = 41.5
| Apr low F = 49.8
| May low F = 60.9
| Jun low F = 68.2
| Jul low F = 71.0
| Aug low F = 70.3
| Sep low F = 62.5
| Oct low F = 51.5
| Nov low F = 39.2
| Dec low F = 31.2
| year low F = 50.8
| Jan record low F = 1
| Feb record low F = -13
| Mar record low F = 4
| Apr record low F = 20
| May record low F = 30
| Jun record low F = 45
| Jul record low F = 47
| Aug record low F = 50
| Sep record low F = 32
| Oct record low F = 23
| Nov record low F = 10
| Dec record low F = -7
| year record low F =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.95
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.97
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.27
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.32
| May precipitation inch = 2.75
| Jun precipitation inch = 2.06
| Jul precipitation inch = 1.68
| Aug precipitation inch = 2.42
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.45
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.46
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.20
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.87
| year precipitation inch = 20.40
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.2
| Feb precipitation days = 3.1
| Mar precipitation days = 3.9
| Apr precipitation days = 3.6
| May precipitation days = 5.7
| Jun precipitation days = 4.7
| Jul precipitation days = 4.0
| Aug precipitation days = 4.6
| Sep precipitation days = 3.9
| Oct precipitation days = 4.2
| Nov precipitation days = 2.8
| Dec precipitation days = 2.5
| year precipitation days = 46.2
| Jan snow inch = 0.1
| Feb snow inch = 0.4
| Mar snow inch = 0.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.5
| Dec snow inch = 0.5
| year snow inch = 1.5
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.2
| Feb snow days = 0.3
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.2
| Dec snow days = 0.3
| year snow days = 1.0
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sjt
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 3, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00418630&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 3, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 854
|1970= 780
|1980= 915
|1990= 1096
|2000= 1081
|2010= 888
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=1121}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Sterling City racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4870232&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|652
|58.16%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3
|0.27%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|4
|0.36%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|1
|0.09%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|2
|0.18%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|2
|0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|35
|3.12%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|422
|37.64%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,121'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,121 people, 344 households, and 291 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 1,081 people, 393 households, and 297 families resided in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,105.9 people/sq mi (425.9/km{{sup|2}}). The 467 housing units averaged 477.7/sq mi (184.0/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 82.05% White, 0.09% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.80% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 33.30% of the population.

Of the 393 households, 36.9% had children under 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were not families. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69, and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the age distribution was 29.6% under 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,359, and for a family was $38,958. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,654 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,955. About 14.3% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The city of Sterling City is served by the [[Sterling City Independent School District]] and is home to the [[Sterling City High School]] Eagles.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:City Hall at Sterling City, TX IMG 1412.JPG|City Hall is located across from the courthouse in Sterling City.
Image:Windmill at courthouse, Sterling City, TX IMG 1404.JPG|A windmill on the courthouse grounds in Sterling City
Image:Wind turbines south of Sterling City, TX IMG 1400.JPG|Wind turbines off U.S. Highway 87 south of Sterling City
Image:First Baptist Church of Sterling City, TX IMG 1416.JPG|First [[Baptist]] Church at 401 Water Street in Sterling City, pastor, Jason McGuire (2013)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sterling City, Texas}}

{{Sterling County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Sterling County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Texas]]