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Ridgway, Colorado

The Town of Ridgway is the home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The town is a former railroad stop on the Uncompahgre River in the northern San Juan Mountains. The town population was 1,183 at the 2020 census.

Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround Ridgway on the south, east, and northeast. The Uncompahgre River runs through the town and flows into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, to the north. Dallas Creek also flows from the south-west and forms a confluence with the Uncompahgre before entering the reservoir. There is a notable wildlife presence — mountain lions, badgers, deer, elk, bears, coyotes, wild turkey, and bald eagles are indigenous to the area. The region's bald eagles nest in the cottonwoods along the river and are a common sight in the late fall.

Ridgway and the surrounding area have featured prominently in pop culture. Most notably the area is the setting of John Wayne's western movie True Grit, and others including How the West Was Won and Tribute to a Bad Man. Ridgway has the only stoplight in Ouray County, at the intersection of Highways 550 and 62.

History
Ridgway began as a railroad town, serving the nearby mining towns of Telluride and Ouray.

The town site is at the northern terminus of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad where it meets with Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad running between Montrose and Ouray. Ridgway was located about 3 mi south of the existing town of Dallas. Articles of incorporation were filed on May 22, 1890, and granted on March 4, 1891. This "Gateway to the San Juans" position was recognized over 100 years ago when the Rio Grande Southern established Ridgway as a railhead center servicing the nearby mining towns of Ouray and Telluride. The town was named for Denver and Rio Grande railroad superintendent Robert M. Ridgway, who established the town in 1891.

The Rio Grande Southern filed for abandonment on April 24, 1952, and the Denver and Rio Grande Western abandoned the line between Ridgway and Ouray on March 21, 1953. The line between Ridgway and Montrose was upgraded from narrow gauge to standard gauge and Ridgway continued to be a shipping point until the line to Montrose was abandoned in 1976 as result of a reservoir being built on the Uncompahgre River.

The dam for that reservoir, the Ridgway Dam, was proposed in 1957 as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Dallas Creek Project, and its original location would have inundated Ridgway. A 1975 decision to put the dam further downstream kept the town above-water, and residents coined their own nickname, "The Town that Refused to Die." Land around the reservoir became the Ridgway State Park north of town limits. Ridgway is nationally recognized for being “Mavericks”.

Geography
Ridgway is situated in the Uncompahgre Valley at an elevation of 6985 ft. The town is located on the San Juan Skyway, cradled in the heart of some of the most photographed mountains in the world. The nearby San Juan Mountain Range has 14 of Colorado's 53 peaks over 14,000 feet. Among them, 14150 ft Mt. Sneffels is most prominent from Ridgway. The eponymous Mt. Ridgway, 13468 ft in height, is also nearby, 4.5 mi west of Ouray. To the east of the town also lies the smaller but equally-grand Cimarron Range, with Uncompahgre Peak at 14309 ft.

The Uncompahgre River flows from Lake Como at 12215 ft in northern San Juan County, in the Uncompahgre National Forest in the northwestern San Juan Mountains is the headwaters of the river. It flows northwest past Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, and Olathe and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in Delta. The river forms Poughkeepsie Gulch and the Uncompahgre Gorge. The major tributaries are all creeks draining the northwest San Juan Mountains. There are two dams on the Uncompahgre River, a small diversion dam in the Uncompahgre Gorge, and Ridgway Dam below Ridgway, which forms Ridgway Reservoir.

The river is used for irrigation in the Uncompahgre Valley. The Uncompahgre is unnavigable, except at high water. The name given to the river comes from the Ute word Uncompaghre, which loosely translates to "dirty water" or "red water spring" and is likely a reference to the many hot springs in the vicinity of Ouray. Lake Otonawanda is the primary source of Ridgway's municipal water.

Climate
Ridgway has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) with four distinct seasons. Summers are usually warm to hot while winter days are cold with nighttime temperatures dropping close to zero. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 85 inches (216 cm).

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 924 people, 404 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density was 462 PD/sqmi. There were 511 housing units at an average density of 255.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% White, 0.1% (1) African American, 0.6% (6) Native American, 0.8% (7) Asian, 0.8% (7) from other races, and 1.8% (17) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.0% of the population.

There were 404 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 28.6% from 18 to 44, 37.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,903, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $31,597 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,084. About 3.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Tourism and culture
Ridgway is poised on a highway that leads tourists to several other mountain towns of the San Juan region. Ridgway itself is a major tourist town. Ridgway is 37 miles east of Telluride and 10 miles north of the Ouray. The area is also set at the base of the San Juan Mountains providing excellent views especially when viewed from Log Hill Mesa.

The Grammy Awards
The Grammy Award trophy is hand crafted exclusively by John Billings (the 'Grammy Man') and his team of craftsmen at Billings Artworks in Ridgway. The trophies are all hand cast in an alloy called grammium, then hand filed, ground and polished before being plated in 24k gold.

Certified Colorado Creative District
In 2011, in collaboration with Ouray County and the City of Ouray through numerous public meetings and pursuant to a request from the State of Colorado for a "Bottom Up" Economic Development Plan, a county-wide economic development plan was created. Goal 3 of this plan called for participation in statewide efforts to grow and nurture creative industries as an economic development driver for the State. The Goal 3 ("G3") committee was formed and approached the Ridgway Town Council for support and leadership in submitting an application to become a certified Creative District with the State. The City of Ouray, Ouray County and Town of Ridgway volunteers all agreed that the Town of Ridgway would be the applicant for District certification in 2012. 15 awards were issued through Colorado Creative Industries, and Ridgway was one of 5 districts awarded Prospective District status.

The Ridgway Creative District was awarded Prospective Creative District status in 2012 under the State of Colorado legislation, House Bill 11-1031, signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper in 2011. After a year as a Prospective District, on June 26, 2013, Colorado Creative Industries and the Boettcher Foundation announced that the Ridgway Creative District had achieved State-Certified Creative District Designation.

The Sherbino Theater
The Sherbino/Cherbeneau/Charbonneau family have been a part of Ridgway since before Ridgway was even incorporated. And their local legacy – The Sherbino – still plays a major role in downtown Ridgway today. In 1877, Louis Sherbino purchased several lots in downtown Ridgway from Samuel Wade. Louis, who was born in Canada but was working in the timber mills in Michigan, moved to Lake City, then Rico, then Colona and finally Ridgway in the late 1800s. On May 21, 1915, rumors that had been circulating were confirmed, as Louis presented an application to the town for permission to erect a "pressed brick veneered building" on Clinton Street and a 6' sidewalk along the Cora Street side. The building turned out to be a theater designed by Gus Kullerstrand of Ouray and it opened to much fanfare on Saturday, September 11, 1915. The newspaper coverage from September 17 says, "Close to 400 people took in the event, all parts of the country being represented by a goodly number of persons. The lineup of rigs and automobiles in front of the building gave the town a citified look." The article went on to mention there was seating for 300, running hot and cold water, and toilets! What is now the Colorado Boy Brewery was part of the theater at the time, accounting for the reported amount of space for seating. The Sherbino family ran the theater for less than a year as another local built a "motion picture business" and most people went there.

The Sherbino building went on to be used as a community center. Local residents gathered there in 1917 to learn that the US had entered WWI. In 1924, many local residents who had come into the region by wagon in the 1870s were invited to the Sherbino to view the movie "The Covered Wagon" which commemorated the adventuresome spirit that lead them here. Since the Sherbino opened, folks have gathered to enjoy Chautauqua-style entertainment such as orchestra performances, melodramas, plays, traveling troupes, and educational events. The building has played host to graduations, public meetings, and was used as a roller rink and (for at least one night) a boxing arena. The exterior had a bit part in the 1968 original movie True Grit that included a false porch built onto the addition on rear of the building. At some point the original interior was split into 2 sections. The section with the original doorway (now Colorado Boy's entrance) served as the post office, a drug store, and the Colorado Yurt Company headquarters. The building interior underwent major renovations in the 1970s, again in the early 1990s, and again in 2018. In August 1991 the Sherbino received designation on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places.

With the support of many local residents, The Ridgway Chautauqua Society (RCS, a Colorado non-profit 501c3) is now a proud owner and steward of two of Ridgway's remaining historic structures - the remodeled Sherbino at 604 Clinton Street, and The 610 Arts Collective at 610 Clinton Street, next door.

Water
Water plays an important part of local Ridgway culture. The town maintains a marina in a northern inlet of the Ridgway Reservoir. During the warm summer months many tourist and locals take advantage of the Ridgway Reservoir, often wakeboarding or enjoying a day at its beach.

The town also features Orvis Hot Springs, a clothing-optional, natural-hot-springs resort near Ridgway with an indoor, clothing-required pool.

Notable people

 * Leslie Chang, journalist
 * Charlie Ergen, co-founder and CEO of EchoStar Communications Corporation
 * Thomas Friedkin, businessman, Hollywood stunt flyer
 * Peter Hessler, non-fiction author, winner of a MacArthur fellowship
 * Ralph Lauren, fashion designer and business executive
 * PattiSue Plumer - Olympic distance runner and American record holder
 * Danny Thompson, race car driver and businessman
 * Dennis Weaver, Emmy Award-winning television actor
 * Trevor White, Producer

Transportation
The closest airport served by scheduled airlines is Montrose Regional Airport, located 28 miles north. Ridgway is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 550.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 550 begins 27 miles north of Ridgway, in Montrose. It runs to Bernalillo, New Mexico, near Albuquerque, New Mexico via Durango, Colorado.
 * [[Image:Colorado 62.svg|25px]] State Highway 62 is a 23.4 mi highway, connecting Ridgway to State Highway 145, near Placerville.

title: Ridgway, Colorado


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Alma, Colorado

Alma is a statutory town in Park County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 296 at the 2020 United States Census. Alma is located West and South of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.

Description

At an elevation of approximately 10522 ft, Alma is the highest incorporated municipality in the United States when considering only areas with permanent residents. Its post office is located at the highest elevation of any in the country. Alma, which is considered a town and not a city, does not take the title of "highest incorporated city" from Leadville, Colorado. Using administrative boundaries as a measure, not settled areas, in 2006 Winter Park, Colorado became the highest incorporated town due to its annexation of a ski area. Beyond the official limits of Alma is a residential area which extends to 11680 ft above sea level on Mountain View Drive; this area uses Fairplay, Colorado addresses, despite being slightly closer to Alma.

History

The town was named by a merchant named Mr. James, after his wife. Another tradition states the town was named for the daughter of a resident.

Mines
Alma grew as a town around the Buckskin Gulch, where gold was first discovered in the area. As hard rock mines opened on Mount Bross, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Democrat, the population of the area continued to grow. In the 1870s, Alma's population peaked at around 10,000 people. The area around Alma contains 17,452 mining sites, mostly placer mines.

Approximately two miles from Alma are the remains of the defunct Orphan Boy mine (founded 1861), which produced gold, silver, lead, and zinc over a number of decades.

The historic Sweet Home Mine near Alma, formerly a silver mine, now produces the mineral rhodochrosite.

Geography
Alma is located along State Highway 9.

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1.129 km2 including 0.006 km2 of water.

Climate
Alma has what could be called a subalpine climate due to its elevation. Summers are pleasant, with mild days and chilly nights. The wettest months are July and August due to thunderstorm activity. Spring and Autumn are both short, but pleasant overall with cool days and cold nights occasionally reaching below freezing. Winters are cold and snowy, lasting from the end of October to well into April some years. Winter highs are almost always below freezing and lows remaining around zero for 1/3 of the year. Alma's snowpack is usually established during October or November. Alma's high elevation and location helps to limit both extreme minima and maxima. April averages the most snowfall out of any month of the year.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 179 people, 94 households, and 40 families residing in the town. The population density was 523.6 PD/sqmi. There were 147 housing units at an average density of 430.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.74% White, 2.23% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 3.35% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.35% of the population.

There were 94 households, of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.4% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.63.

The age distribution was 12.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 53.1% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 140.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,563, and the median income for a family was $59,688. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,165. None of the families and 4.3% of the population were living below the poverty line.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Alma, Colorado


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Fairplay, Colorado

Fairplay is a statutory town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Park County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 724 at the 2020 United States Census. Fairplay is located in South Park at an elevation of 9953 ft. The town is the fifth-highest incorporated place in the State of Colorado. Fairplay is now a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and 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. 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. The town of Fairplay was incorporated in 1872.

It is the largest community in the grassland basin of Colorado known as South Park, sitting on the west edge of the basin at the junction of U.S. Highway 285 and 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 and 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 2.995 km2 including 0.024 km2 of water.

Climate
Fairplay has a subarctic or subalpine climate (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.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 610 people, 259 households, and 169 families residing in the town. The population density was 576 PD/sqmi. There were 337 housing units at an average density of 318 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93% White, 1.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.

Burro Days
The Burro Days festival is held on the last weekend of July. 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 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 races in Colorado; the most notable takes place in Leadville.

The Fairplay event is the World Championship of Burro Racing, an ultra-marathon and the longest burro race in the state. 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 riding and for carrying mail. With time, the rivalry between the two cities ended this cooperative endeavor.

Transportation
Fairplay is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Gunnison-Denver Outrider line.

Notable people

 * Sheldon Jackson, Presbyterian missionary who established what is now the South Park Community Presbyterian Church in Fairplay

title: Fairplay, Colorado


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Haxtun, Colorado

Haxtun is a statutory town in Phillips County, Colorado, United States The town population was 981 at the 2020 United States Census.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1.542 km2, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 946 people, 405 households, and 257 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 0.10% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 405 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 34.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, and 73.4% were 18 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.4 males.

title: Haxtun, Colorado


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Holyoke, Colorado

Holyoke is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,346 at the 2020 United States Census.

History
The city is named after Holyoke, Massachusetts, which is itself named for Elizur Holyoke, an explorer in the 17th-century.

Geography

Holyoke is located at 40.58194°N, -102.30111°W (40.582002, -102.301056).

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 6.414 km2 including 0.018 km2 of water.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Holyoke has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,261 people, 896 households, and 594 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,300.3 PD/sqmi. There were 980 housing units at an average density of 563.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 89.61% White, 0.04% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 8.09% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.39% of the population.

There were 896 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,984, and the median income for a family was $36,970. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $17,455 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,697. About 12.0% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Greg Brophy (b. 1966), former state senator
 * Bill Brundige (1948–2018), American football defensive end
 * Mike Groene (b. 1955), politician
 * Dorothy Horrell (b. 1951), Chancellor of University of Colorado Denver
 * Charles B. Timberlake (1854–1941), U.S. Congressman from Colorado

title: Holyoke, Colorado


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Paoli, Colorado

Paoli is a Statutory Town in Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The population was 51 according to the 2020 census.

Description
A post office called Paoli has been in operation since 1888. The community was named after Paoli, Pennsylvania.

Geography
Paoli is located at 40.61222°N, -102.47278°W (40.612120, -102.472868).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 sqmi, all of it land.

title: Paoli, Colorado


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Snowmass Village, Colorado

Snowmass Village is a home rule municipality in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The population was 3,096 at the 2020 census. A popular winter resort location for skiing and snowboarding, the town is well known as the location of the Snowmass ski area, the largest of the four nearby ski areas operated collectively as Aspen/Snowmass. In 2010, the accidental discovery by a bulldozer operator of fossilized elements of a Pleistocene ecosystem in the ice age lake bed at the Ziegler Reservoir (commonly referred to as the Snowmastodon site) put Snowmass Village prominently on the paleontological map of North America.

History
The Brush Creek Valley was settled circa 1910 by ranching families including: Sinclair, Melton, Stapleton, and Hoaglund. As a child, Hilder Hoaglund would ride her horse into Aspen to go to school. Her father, Charles Hoaglund, immigrated from Sweden in the 1800s. After a school was built in Brush Creek valley, she attended the Brush Creek Frontier School, now called the Little Red Schoolhouse, located on Owl Creek Road. She became a teacher at that school and then at the Red Brick School in Aspen. At the schoolhouse, she played the accordion or piano for community dances. When she married Bill Anderson, the Hoaglund Ranch became the Anderson Ranch.

Paul Soldner, a ceramic artist noted for developing American Raku, established a studio in the Anderson Ranch buildings in 1966. He founded the Anderson Ranch Arts Center and incorporated it into a non-profit in 1973. The Anderson Ranch Arts Center on Owl Creek Road uses many of the original buildings from the Hoaglund Ranch, although not in their original location, farther down stream on what is now Snowmass Club Circle.

Under the leadership of Bill Janss and DRC Brown, the American Cement Company developed Snowmass Village as a ski resort starting in 1966. * Hayfields were subdivided and the lots sold for houses. Brush Creek is an unappealing name for a ski area, so they named the resort Snowmass after the valley to the west of Brush Creek. Fritz Benidict acted as the architect of the Snowmass ski area. The Campground Chairlift serving the western edge of the ski area, actually does extend into the Snowmass Valley. Five chairlifts were installed: Fanny Hill, Burlingame, and Sam's Knob, the Big Burn, and Campground.

The Snowmass ski area first opened on December 16, 1967. The new ski area hired Olympic medalist Stein Eriksen to direct the ski school. Besides experience as a skier and instructor, Stein Eriksen brought an aura of European glamor to the raw new resort.

Brush Creek Road was paved in 1968. The former hayfields still had mostly alfalfa into the 1970s. The Snowmass Golf Course was first laid out with nine holes in (need date). It was expanded and redesigned several times (need dates), the latest in 2001 by James Engh. The periodic re-landscaping of the golf course led to the relocation of ranch houses and to changes in the valley floor from flat or sloping fields to rolling hills with ponds.

The Snowmass Wildcat Fire Protection District was founded in 1971 and the firehouse built on Owl Creek Road.

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy abducted and murdered Caryn Campbell in Snowmass Village on January 12, 1975. Her body was later found along the Owl Creek road near what is now the Facilities Maintenance Division.

In 1977, the community incorporated as the Town of Snowmass Village.

The Snowmass Chapel was built near the firehouse on Owl Creek Road in 1988. Previous to this time, church services were held in the Opticon Movie Theater or in the open air Aspen Grove Chapel, where benches were set up under aspen trees separating two ski runs. Later the area was cleared for more condominiums off Wood Road.

Today, Snowmass Village has experienced a building boom, as new condominiums, luxury homes, mountainside mansions, and Base Village have recently been constructed. Westin Hotels and the Viceroy Hotel Group have recently built a respective hotel in Snowmass. Snowmass Village is also experiencing a rising influx of wealthy tourists and skiers.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.6 sqmi, of which 25.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.35%) is water.

Snowmass Village is to the north and at the base of the Snowmass Ski Area. It is located on Brush Creek, not Snowmass Creek. Within the area of the town, Owl Creek and Brush Creek join and then flow north into the Roaring Fork River. Visible from the village from east to west are Burnt Mountain Ridge, Burnt Mountain, Baldy Mountain, Chapel Peak, Garret Peak, Clark Peak, Mount Daly, and Capitol Peak. Neither Snowmass Mountain nor Snowmass Peak, at the headwaters of Snowmass Creek, are visible from Snowmass Village.

The geologic unit Mancos Shale underlies most of the area. On slopes too steep for vegetation, this shale is visible as gray expanses of eroding bedrock. On south-facing slopes, the alkaline soil that develops from the shales supports Gambel oak, sagebrush, serviceberry, and chokecherry. The north-facing slopes feature aspen, subalpine fir, Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and blue spruce.

The area around Snowmass Village has abundant wildlife including black bears which feed on the acorns and berries of the south-facing slopes.

title: Snowmass Village, Colorado


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Granada, Colorado

Granada is a Statutory Town in Prowers County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 445 at the 2020 United States Census.

History
A post office called Granada has been in operation since 1873. The community most likely takes its name from nearby Granada Creek.

During World War II, the Granada War Relocation Center (known to internees as Camp Amache) was located west of Granada as a Japanese American internment camp. It opened in August 1942 and housed a maximum population of 7,318 citizens.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1.775 km2, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 640 people, 198 households, and 151 families residing in the town. The population density was 889.6 PD/sqmi. There were 233 housing units at an average density of 323.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 64.69% White, 0.16% Native American, 33.75% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.50% of the population.

There were 198 households, out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,042, and the median income for a family was $31,750. Males had a median income of $22,167 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,561. About 25.2% of families and 27.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.4% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Students are served by Granada Undivided High School whose mascot are the Bobcats.

title: Granada, Colorado


text:
Hartman, Colorado

Hartman is a Statutory Town in Prowers County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 56 at the 2020 United States Census. The town is located North of SH-196.

History
A post office called Hartman has been in operation since 1908. The community was named after W. P. Hartman, a railroad official.

The town has one historic site, the old Hartman Gymnasium. The circa 1938 gymnasium is associated with New Deal programs in Prowers County. The building is the only example of Works Progress Administration (WPA) construction in Hartman and one of only a few such projects in the county. Its use as a community center continues to contribute to the social history of Hartman.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 0.711 km2, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 111 people, 40 households, and 31 families residing in the town. The population density was 365.6 PD/sqmi. There were 50 housing units at an average density of 164.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 86.49% White, 0.90% Native American, 7.21% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.94% of the population.

There were 40 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 34.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $24,375. Males had a median income of $16,250 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,816. About 32.4% of families and 42.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.9% of those 65 and older.

title: Hartman, Colorado


text:
Holly, Colorado

Holly is a statutory town in Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, United States. The town is located 4.3 mi west of the Kansas border at an elevation of 3393 ft. Despite having the lowest elevation of any Colorado municipality, Holly is higher than the high points of 19 states and the District of Columbia. The town population was 837 at the 2020 United States Census.

Early history
Holly was settled as a ranching community, and the town was incorporated in 1903. The town was named for Hiram S. Holly, a local cattleman. Hiram S. Holly moved to the town in 1871, and brought 1,300 cattle with him. Holly's ranch, the SS Ranch or Double S Ranch, was the first settlement in the area. The Holly SS Ranch Barn, a stone barn built in 1879, survives and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original stone ranch house also survives, nearby, but is not listed.

Holly Sugar
Holly Sugar was created in the town in 1905 just in time for the sugarbeet harvest that year. The production was so successful the company quickly looked to expand to other communities. By 1911, Holly Sugar had expanded outside the State of Colorado. The company has long since left the Holly community. In 1988, Holly Sugar merged with Imperial Sugar.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1.8763 km2 including 0.0026 km2 of water.

Climate
The Köppen Climate system classifies the weather as semi-arid, abbreviated as BSk.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,048 people, 369 households, and 250 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,388.5 PD/sqmi. There were 449 housing units at an average density of 594.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 75.10% White, 0.38% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 23.66% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.97% of the population.

There were 369 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,917, and the median income for a family was $31,979. Males had a median income of $23,000 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,246. About 21.7% of families and 27.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents
Holly is the hometown of Roy Romer who moved there as an infant from his birthplace of Garden City, Kansas. Romer served as the 39th Governor of Colorado from 1987 to 1999, and subsequently as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2000 to 2006.

Private Elmer M. Gideon, USA, was born and raised near Holly. He was in the 29th Div, 116th Infantry, Company I. Private Gideon landed on Omaha Beach on June 12th, 1944, and died under sniper around August 6th, near St Lo. France.

title: Holly, Colorado


text:
Lamar, Colorado

Lamar is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Prowers County, Colorado. The city population was 7,687 at the 2020 United States Census. The city was named after L.Q.C. Lamar, a slaveholder, Confederate soldier and diplomat who wrote the Mississippi Secession Ordinance, and after the Civil War, went on to serve as Secretary of the Interior and as a Supreme Court Justice. Lamar is the home of Lamar Community College, and is the largest city in southeastern Colorado.

History
Lamar was founded on May 24, 1886, by Issac Holmes. It was named after Lucius Lamar. At the time Lamar was the Secretary of the Interior, but previously he had written the Mississippi Ordinance of Secession, served the Confederacy as an officer and a diplomat. The first town elections were held in December, and C. M. Morrison became the town's first mayor. In 1889 Prowers County was established, and Lamar was elected to house the county's government. Throughout its history, Lamar has suffered from fires and floods. The town was also greatly affected by the Dust Bowl, and as such participated in projects led by the Civil Works Administration, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and the Works Progress Administration.

The northern site of the Pierre Auger Observatory of ultra-high energy cosmic rays is planned to be built near Lamar.

Geography and climate
The city lies in southeastern Colorado in northwestern Prowers County on the south side of the Arkansas River floodplain. Las Animas is about twenty miles to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 sqmi, all land.

Transportation
Lamar receives intercity passenger rail service at the Lamar Amtrak Station via Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles. There is also intercity bus service provided by Bustang. Lamar is the last eastbound stop of the Lamar-Pueblo-Colorado Springs Outrider line.

Highways
 * [[Image:US 50.svg|20px]] US 50 is an east–west highway running from California to Maryland. It is also the main route to Pueblo and Las Animas.
 * [[Image:Colorado 196.svg|20px]] Prowers County Road 196 (state has abandoned the highway) is an 11.4 mi stretch that connects around Lamar to Wiley.
 * [[Image:US 287.svg|20px]] [[Image:US 385.svg|20px]] US 287/385 are two concurrent highways that run south through Lamar. They connect Lamar to Springfield. US 287 runs from Texas State Highway 87 in Port Arthur, Texas, to US 89 at Choteau, Montana. US 385 runs from Big Bend National Park in Texas to US 85 in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Lamar is located in a cold semi-arid climate (Bsk)

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,804 people, 3,102 households, and 1,980 families living in the city. The population density was 1,858.1 PD/sqmi. There were 3,666 housing units at an average density of 872.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 78.6% White, 0.7% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 16.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.7% of the population.

There were 3,102 households, out of which 42.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,521, and the median income for a family was $43,588. Males working full-time and year-round had a median income of $31,621 versus $30,148 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,944. About 21.4% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Lamar is part of School District RE-2, and it is home to Lamar Community College.

Economy and health care
Lamar was originally founded as a town with an agriculture-based economy. In 1981, German bus manufacturer Neoplan opened a manufacturing plant employing 650, but it closed down in 2006. Lamar has increasingly relied on tourism.

Prowers Medical Center, a critical access hospital, serves Lamar and Prowers County. The hospital has an emergency department that is a level IV trauma center.

Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Lamar include:
 * Gordon L. Allott (1907–1989), U.S. Senator from Colorado
 * Marvin Ash (1914–1974), jazz pianist
 * Ken Curtis (1916–1991), actor, singer
 * Scott Elarton (1976- ), baseball pitcher
 * Curt Gentry (1931–2014), journalist, non-fiction author
 * Gerald Gregg (1907–1985), illustrator, book cover artist
 * Wayne R. Grisham (1923–2011), U.S. Representative from California
 * Floyd D. Hall (1916–2012), pilot, airline executive
 * Sharon Herbaugh (1954–1993), war correspondent for the Associated Press
 * Wesley Tuttle (1917–2003), singer-songwriter, guitarist
 * Sandy Vance (1947- ), baseball pitcher

title: Lamar, Colorado


text:
Wiley, Colorado

Wiley is a Statutory Town in Prowers County, Colorado, United States. The population was 437 at the 2020 Census.

Description
A post office called Wiley has been in operation since 1907. The community was named after W. M. Wiley, a first settler.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 sqmi, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 405 people, 162 households, and 112 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,384.4 PD/sqmi. There were 196 housing units at an average density of 558.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 83% White, 0.7% African American, 0% Native American, 0.5%  Asian, 13.8% from  other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.2% of the population.

There were 162 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,294, and the median income for a family was $32,143. Males had a median income of $30,156 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,115. About 13.1% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Highway: Wiley is 0.2 miles east of U.S. Highway 287.

Rail: (Historical information) Wiley was once served by the Arkansas Valley subdivision of the Acheson, Topeka and Santa Fe railway.

title: Wiley, Colorado


text:
Avondale, Colorado

Avondale is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office in and governed by Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Avondale post office has the ZIP Code 81022. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Avondale CDP was 594, while the population of the 81022 ZIP Code Tabulation Area was 1,624 including adjacent areas.

History
The Avondale post office has been in operation since 1892. The name Avondale is derived from Stratford-upon-Avon.

Geography
The Avondale CDP has an area of 1.627 km2, all land.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Avondale CDP for the United States Census 2000.

title: Avondale, Colorado


text:
Beulah Valley, Colorado

Beulah Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in and governed by Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Beulah Valley CDP was 518 at the United States Census 2020. The Beulah post office (Zip Code 81023) serves the area.

Bishop Castle, constructed by Jim Bishop, otherwise known as a "one man castle", is located between Beulah and San Isabel, Colorado.

Geography
The Beulah Valley CDP has an area of 6.662 km2, including 0.002 km2 of water.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Beulah Valley CDP for the United States Census 2000.

title: Beulah Valley, Colorado


text:
Boone, Colorado

Boone is a Statutory Town located in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 305 at the 2020 United States Census.

History
Boone was founded as Booneville during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush by Albert Gallatin Boone, a grandson of Daniel Boone. Boone was the first postmaster and for a brief time Indian agent to the Cheyenne and Arapaho.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1.006 km2 including 0.025 km2 of water.

Demographics
Boone is a part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.

As of the census of 2000, there were 323 people, 131 households, and 89 families residing in the town. The population density was 719.7 PD/sqmi. There were 148 housing units at an average density of 329.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93.50% White, 0.62% African American, 0.62% Native American, 1.55% from other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.58% of the population.

There were 131 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $26,964. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,628. About 7.8% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Boone, Colorado


text:
Colorado City, Colorado

Colorado City is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office in and governed by Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Colorado City post office has the ZIP Code 81019 (post office boxes). At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Colorado City CDP was 2,237. The Colorado City Metropolitan District provides services.

Geography
Colorado City is located in the Greenhorn Valley.

The Colorado City CDP has an area of 39.030 km2, including 0.295 km2 of water.

History
The first settlement at the site of Colorado City was called Greenhorn after the name of an 18th century Comanche chief (Cuerno Verde in Spanish). In 1845, mountain man John Brown, his wife Luisa Sandoval, and several children established a trading post where the Trapper's Trail to Taos, New Mexico crossed Greenhorn Creek. Brown and his family left Greenhorn for California in 1849. In 1853, Lt. Edward Griffin Beckwith, an army officer, said of Greenhorn, "six New Mexican families had built an irrigation system to divert the water from Greenhorn Creek to water their crops of corn, wheat, beans and watermelon. Their homes were built of adobe which stood shoulder to shoulder and were surrounded by a close fence of high pickets. They also had corrals for the safe keeping of their stock."

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Colorado City CDP for the 1990 United States Census.

Government

Colorado City is a metropolitan district, a type of special district established under Colorado law. It is governed by an elected, five-member board of directors and managed by an appointed district manager.

The metropolitan district operates Lake Beckwith, which provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The lake also forms the Lake Beckwith State Wildlife Area, one of several hundred state wildlife areas in Colorado managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado City also has a public golf course and club house.

Transportation
Colorado City is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Trinidad-Pueblo Outrider line.

title: Colorado City, Colorado


text:
Pueblo West, Colorado

Pueblo West is a census-designated place (CDP) in and governed by Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Pueblo West CDP was 33,086 according to the United States Census 2020. The Pueblo West Metropolitan District provides services. The Pueblo post office (Zip Code 81007) serves Pueblo West postal addresses.

History
The area that is now known as Pueblo West was undeveloped rangeland before Robert P. McCulloch, land developer and oil magnate, and his company McCulloch Properties, Inc. came to Colorado. Historically occupied by Ute and Comanche people, most recently the land was used for ranching, supported by the water from the Arkansas River. Inspired by the neighboring City of Pueblo, Colorado, and the momentum of successfully creating Lake Havasu City, Arizona, McCulloch, and his company was formally founded in the Pueblo West Metropolitan District (the District) on September 16, 1969. Shortly after the creation of the District, McCulloch built the Pueblo West Inn, where guests were treated to a luxurious experience to sell land in the rolling prairies of the new community. The Pueblo West News, the District's first newspaper, reported by 1974, over 2,000 new residents had moved into Pueblo West, and Pueblo School District 70 founded Pueblo West Elementary with 200 students enrolling in the fall. In 1977 McCulloch Properties pleaded guilty to criminal fraud for large‐scale land sales misrepresentation and was forced to refund dissatisfied customers.

Since the 1970s, recreational and industrial opportunities were also being founded on Pueblo West property, including the South Equestrian Center, National Horseman's Arena, the Pueblo West Golf and Tennis Club, and manufacturing company Aspen Skiwear, all making use of the area's expansive plains for their ventures. Pueblo West had a population of nearly 4,500 by the early 1980s, requiring the building of Pueblo West Middle School. With developmental opportunities abounding in the North Industrial Park, the economy of the District was growing alongside its residential areas. Following a population boom in the 1990s, several new elementary schools were built, with Pueblo West High School officially opening in 1996. In the early 2000s, a trail system was created along with an additional fire station being built to serve the north side of the District. Pueblo West also entered into the Southern Delivery System, a bilateral agreement to supply water from the Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs. Today, Pueblo West is home to over 30,000 residents and boasts a growing industrial center.

In January 2019, the Pueblo West Metro District Board initiated a feasibility study regarding incorporation.

Geography
Pueblo West is approximately 49 square miles in size and is located along the southern edge of the state's major growth corridor. Situated on Highway 50, roughly 7 miles west of the City of Pueblo and 38 miles east of Cañon City, Pueblo West is bisected by U.S. Route 50, and its northeastern border is adjacent to Interstate 25. Lake Pueblo State Park is situated along the southern boundary of Pueblo West, and the remainder of the community is mostly landlocked by ranch land, conservation easements, and private property.

The Pueblo West CDP has an area of 128.744 km2, including 0.052 km2 of water.

Climate
(All temperature ranges given are in Fahrenheit degrees)

Pueblo West, located in Southern Colorado, boasts nearly 300 days of sunshine a year. While the temperature tends to be mild and dry, monsoon years can bring higher amounts of rain and cooler summer temperatures. According to the national weather service, the record high summer rainfall for this area was 14.64 inches in 1921, while the record low rainfall was less than an inch during the Dust Bowl in 1939. The 30 year average for summer precipitation is just over 5 inches.

Spring temperatures can fluctuate greatly during the day, with the average highs for March, April, and May typically registering from the 50s to the mid 70s. However, in some years late spring snow storms can dump inches of snow, sometimes in a matter of a few hours. Some years might see light snowfall well into May. Nighttime lows typically range from the 20s to the 40s for these months. Pueblo West is rather windy in general, and particularly windy in the spring.

In the summer, high temperatures typically start out in the 80s-90s range, but can quickly reach 100 or higher. However, the evenings are pleasantly cool, with the average summer low evening temperature being in the 50s to 60s, although occasionally temperatures can drop down into the upper 30s even during the summer.

Fall is often crisp and very dry. September, October, and November typically start out in the 80s and fall through the 70s to reach high temperatures in the 50s during November, although, depending on the year, October or even September can sometimes see the first snowfall. Lows for this time period tend to move from the 50s down into the upper 20s. Frequently these months will also become windier and can exacerbate Red flag warnings for wildfires. Campers and hikers should be aware that campfires are frequently prohibited during these months.

The winter months of December, January, and February see average highs in the 40s and 50s with lows in the 20s. Milder winter temperatures also mean less snowfall, with a yearly average snowfall of 31 inches.

Averages and graphs for the above information can be found here:

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Pueblo West CDP for the 1990 United States Census.

Recreation
Lake Pueblo State Park offers fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking opportunities. Other major attractions, such as the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Monarch Mountain, and the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, are nearby.

Government
The Pueblo West Metropolitan District operates one of the leanest local governments in Colorado and provides services to over 30,000 residents, businesses, and visitors. As a special district form of government, Pueblo West exists to provide services in an unincorporated portion of Pueblo County and is not considered a city. This classification recognizes Pueblo West as a quasi-municipal local government governed by Title 32, Article 1 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Pueblo West was formed to perform local government functions outlined in the District's service plan. These services include covenant enforcement, fire protection, parks and recreation, public works, and water and wastewater utilities. Law enforcement, planning and zoning, and court services are provided by Pueblo County. In addition, services such as the Health Department, Regional Building Department, and the Pueblo West Library are provided by partnerships between the City of Pueblo and Pueblo County.

The District is governed by a five (5) member Board of Directors, who are elected by registered voters consisting of Pueblo West residents and property owners. Elections for board members occur in May of even years and alternate between two (2) seats and three (3) seats.

Pueblo West lies within Colorado's 3rd U.S. Congressional District. For representation in the Colorado General Assembly, Pueblo West is located in the 46th and 47th districts of the Colorado House of Representatives and the 3rd districts of the Colorado State Senate.

Taxes
Property taxes serve as the District's primary method of raising general fund revenue, with miscellaneous fees and grants covering the remainder. In 2015, Pueblo West generated $4,337,155 in revenue from property taxes and $1,757,287 in miscellaneous taxes. As an unincorporated special district, Pueblo West is limited in its ability to generate the revenue needed to provide necessary services to its growing population. Of the 3.9% sales tax collected in Pueblo West, 2.9% goes to the State of Colorado, while the remaining 1% goes to Pueblo County.

In November 2015, Pueblo West voters passed a ballot initiative asking for an excise tax on the first transfer of cultivated recreational marijuana within Pueblo West.

In November 2016, Pueblo West voters passed ballot initiative 5A, asking for a Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR) timeout to fund the design, construction, and maintenance of a new community pool and aquatic facility. The TABOR time-out will sunset in 2026.

Education
Pueblo West is home to 9 Pueblo County School District 70 schools and a charter school, including:

High schools

 * Pueblo West High School

Middle schools

 * Liberty Point International (formerly Pueblo West Middle School)
 * Skyview Middle School

Elementary schools

 * Liberty Point International (formerly Pueblo West Elementary School)
 * Sierra Vista Elementary
 * Desert Sage Elementary School
 * Prairie Winds Elementary School
 * Cedar Ridge Elementary School

Charter schools

 * Swallows Charter Academy High School (Kindergarten through 12th grade)

Public transport
Pueblo West is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.

title: Pueblo West, Colorado


text:
Rye, Colorado

Rye is a Statutory Town in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 206 at the 2020 census.

History
A post office called Rye has been in operation since 1881.

Some say the community was named for the wild rye native to the area, while others believe the place is named for rye whiskey.

Geography
Rye is located in the Greenhorn Valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.1 sqmi, all of it land.

Climate
Rye has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cfb), a climate type usually associated with maritime regions, but is also found in high elevation areas in which summer temperatures are moderated by altitude. Precipitation exceeds that of semi-arid places, and average winter temperatures exceed freezing (O°C, 32 °F). This isolated pocket of climate exists due to the orographic enhancement of precipitation levels and summers moderated by altitude. Despite its climate Rye has much in common with other locations in its part of Colorado. Although conditions are not wet at any time of year, there is increased precipitation in March and April, as well as a snowfall maximum in March, with the snowiest periods being November and January through April. The North American Monsoon creates a second wet period in June and July. This climate features summers with warm daytime temperatures and mild to cool nights, along with chilly and snowy winters. Typical of its region, winters are quite variable, with December–February temperatures having ranged from as low as −36 °F to as high as 76 °F. The all-time record high is 101 °F, set on June 21, 1981, and the all-time record low is −36 °F, set on January 12, 1963.

Demographics
It is part of the Pueblo, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 202 people, 87 households, and 52 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,016.5 PD/sqmi. There were 119 housing units at an average density of 1,187.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.09% White, 0.50% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.49% from other races, and 6.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.47% of the population.

There were 87 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,681. About 7.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.8% of those 65 or over.

Education
Pueblo County School District 70 operates public schools, including Rye Elementary School and Rye High School, both near the town limits.

title: Rye, Colorado


text:
Salt Creek, Colorado

Salt Creek is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Salt Creek CDP was 507 at the United States Census 2020. The Pueblo post office (Zip Code 81006) serves the area. The community takes its name from Salt Creek, a stream that flows on the community's west side.

Geography
The Salt Creek CDP has an area of 1.119 km2, all land. The neighborhood is also called Barrio Salado.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Salt Creek CDP for the United States Census 2000.

title: Salt Creek, Colorado


text:
Meeker, Colorado

Meeker is a statutory town in and the county seat of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States, that is the most populous municipality in the county. The town population was 2,374 at the 2020 United States Census.

Description
The town is largely a ranching community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64, on the north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town. Meeker is the home of the annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog trials.

History
The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other white citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Incident, also known as the Meeker Massacre. The site of the uprising, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley west of town and is marked by a prominent sign. None of the buildings remain.

After the uprising and the ensuing conflict known as the Ute War, in 1880 the US Congress passed legislation requiring the Ute population to relocate to reservations in Utah. The United States Army established a garrison on the current site of the town, called the Camp at White River. The town was founded in 1883 following the removal of the troops. The White River Museum is located just north of the Rio Blanco County Courthouse and housed in several original wooden structures of the Army garrison.

The town emerged as a regional center for hunting by the turn of the 20th century. Theodore Roosevelt visited the town twice in 1901 and in 1905 on a mountain lion and bear hunting trip and stayed in the historic Hotel Meeker opposite the courthouse. The town is also a favorite summer destination and permanent residence for many prominent Americans, including billionaires Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, Henry Kravis, former president and COO of Goldman Sachs Jon Winkelried, and comedian Daniel Tosh.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.9 sqmi, all of it land. The town is situated on the White River at an elevation of 6,250 feet above sea level.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Meeker has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Meeker was 103 F on July 11, 1900, while the coldest temperature recorded was -43 F on January 7, 1913, and January 12, 1963.

Notable people

 * Neal Blue, co-owner of General Atomics
 * Virginia Neal Blue (1910–1970), Colorado State Treasurer from 1967 to 1970
 * Margaret L. Curry (1898–1986), Colorado state parole officer
 * Buddy Roosevelt, actor and stunt performer

title: Meeker, Colorado


text:
Rangely, Colorado

Rangely is a statutory town in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,299 at the 2020 census. Rangely is the home of Colorado Northwestern Community College.

Description
The town is home to one of two campuses of the Colorado Northwestern Community College.

A post office called Rangely was established in 1884. The community was named after Rangeley, Maine, the native home of a local businessperson.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.0 sqmi, all of it land.

The terrain is mountain desert and is dry for most of the year.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rangely has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Rangely was 108 F on June 21, 1974, while the coldest temperature recorded was -37 F on February 15, 1895, and January 2, 1952.

History

The land is what makes the town of Rangely's interesting. The land is the base from which all human events unfold, whether it is the geology that brought the miners and oil men, or the water that brought the Fremonts, the Utes, the explorers, the ranchers.

To tell the story we must start back in the earlier history of the earth when a shallow sea encompassed most of the area around, 300 million years ago in what is labeled as the Pennsylvanian Period. and Permian geologic periods. During this time marine creatures would become fossils and can actually still be discovered around Rangely. Huge dunes were formed on the edges of this sea and became porous rock that is now known as the Weber Formation. This formed what is called an "anticline." An anticline is a ridge-shaped fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope downward from the crest. Then, as the sea receded, dinosaurs left bones and the extensive plant growth became oil and coal.

The innumerable canyons, draws, and gullies of the area held creeks, rivers and streams which attracted the early Fremont and Ute peoples. The Fremont people migrated to the Rangely area from the Great Basin in south-central Utah between 400 B.C. - 650 A.D. What we know about the Fremont comes from the artifacts they left in the area and from their homes and campsites which we find in the nearby canyons. Evidence of the Fremont people is plentiful in and around Rangely; for example, the rock art on Colorado 139 and Dragon Trail are both examples of Fremont Art. A Fremont dwelling in Texas Creek Overlook was an atypical dwelling for the Fremont people.

In many places around Rangely the art echoes images from other sites in the southwest. The art of the historical Utes records their history of conflict with the white settlers who began moving into the area in the 1800s. Their art is also the first to include horses originally brought by the Spanish.

The first recorded white settlers making a permanent home in the area were Mr. Joseph Studer and C.P. Hill who came in 1882, the same year the Ute people were to be confined to reservations in southern Colorado and eastern Utah. Some time later Mr. Hill was joined by his relatives, among them a cousin, Lee S. Chase, who named the town after Rangeley, Maine. Mr. Hill began ranching and opened a trading post. All supplies were freighted—first from Salt Lake City, Utah, by team and wagon, then from Grand Junction, Colorado, via Douglas Pass. By 1913 there were enough ranching and farming families in the area to necessitate the building of a large one-room school house (now located in the Rangely Outdoor Museum. )

Interestingly, the Utes had long been aware of oil in the area. The first shallow wells drilled in 1903 produced about 10 barrels of oil per day. arrived in 1931. In 1932, after a year of drilling Raven A-1, the first deep oil well, successfully reached the vast pocket of crude in the Weber formation at a depth of more than 6,000 feet, but there was no market for the 230 barrels it produced each day; however, the well was known as the most productive oil well of all time. The well was capped until everything changed for this sleepy little town with the large demand for oil required during the Second World War. Chevron reopened the Raven A-1 well and Rangely became a booming oil camp.

By 1946 raising cattle and sheep, farming, shallow oil well drilling, and mining coal were no longer the principle industries. Deep well drilling was king. Tents, trolley cars, crude cabins and trailers took over the dozen homes. The one store, post office, filling station, library, pool hall, Red Cross first aid station, and hotel suddenly had competition from a slew of businesses, including motels, cafes, bars, cleaners, movie theater, bowling alley, and more. The school had been accredited up to three years of high school with senior year taken elsewhere, usually Meeker, or forfeited. Company camps were built in many places in the valley, and in 1947 Rangely was incorporated as a town with Fred Nichols voted in as Mayor. In the 1960s the Rangely oil field was a major producer in the country and deemed such an important strategic asset that bomb shelters were built at the college and supplied with coats, blankets, food and water.

By 1949 there were 478 wells across 30 miles in the Weber formation. The peak rate of the area was 82,000 by 1956. Rangely's oil field was known as the Rangely Weber Sand Unit by 1998 and recovered more than 815 million barrels of oil, making it the largest field in the Rocky Mountain Region. This Region has 406 producing wells, 351 injection wells and produces about one third of Colorado's oil production coming out to a huge 20,000 barrels a day. The Weber Basin, has recovered an additional 12 million barrels of oil from the shallower Mancos Shale at depths less than 2000 feet. The Sand Unit is a unitized field so is owned by many, but only Chevron USA Production operates the field. Major oil companies, smaller independent oil companies, trust and individuals numbering almost 30 share the expenses and the benefits of the field today. The Unit provides jobs for approximately 300 individuals and makes up about 70 percent of the property tax revenue for Rio Blanco County.

In 2015, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Rangely Campus, began the excavation of an important fossil dig of the bones and very rare skin and tendons of a Duckbill Dinosaur which was located in Rangely. The Duckbill Dinosaur, which ultimately took on the name of Walter, was excavated and the fossils were airlifted to a federal repository on Colorado Northwestern Coummunity College's Craig Campus on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

Historic places
Near Rangely are the following prehistoric Fremont culture sites listed as National Register of Historic Places:

 * Prehistoric sites
 * Collage Shelter Site – dated from 500–1499 AD.
 * Cañon Pintado – dated from 500–1899 AD.
 * Carrot Men Pictograph Site – dated from 500–1499 AD.
 * Fremont Lookout Fortification Site – dated from 0–1499 AD

Demographics
As of the 2020 census, there were 2,299 people, 1,118 housing units, and 825 families in the city. There were 1,979 White people, 15 African Americans, 23 Native Americans, 14 Asians, 127 people from some other race, and 141 people from two or more races.

The ancestry of Rangely was 16.5% English, 16.2% German, 12.2% Irish, 3.5% Polish, 2.7% Scottish, 2.7% French, 2.1% Norwegian, and 1.8% Italian.

The median age was 33.3 years old. 11.8% of the population were older than 65, with 6.6% between the ages of 65 to 74, 4.5% between the ages of 75 to 84, and 0.7% 85 or older. 12.9% of the population were veterans.

The median household income was $60,972, with families having $84,167, married couples having $95,185, and non-families having $43,162. 11.7% of the population were in poverty.

Landmarks
For decades, Rangely has been the location of an unused water tank, prized for its remarkable internal resonance, in which sounds may sustain for up to 40 seconds. Now known as The Tank Center for Sonic Arts, the 65-foot tower has been repurposed as a concert and recording venue.

Kenney Reservoir is about five miles east of town along Colorado State Highway 64. It offers camping, fishing, and boating.

title: Rangely, Colorado


text:
Center, Colorado

The Town of Center is a Statutory Town located in Saguache and Rio Grande counties in Colorado, United States. The town's population was 1,929 at the 2020 United States Census with 1,885 residing in Saguache County and 44 residing in Rio Grande County.

Description
Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C. The nearest college is Adams State College; 23 miles to Alamosa, Colorado.

The town lies near the center of the San Luis Valley, hence the name.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 2.238 km2, all of it land.

Climate
Center has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk), bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).

Demographics
As of the census of 2012, there were 2,271 people, 768 households, and 603 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,854.3 PD/sqmi. There were 848 housing units at an average density of 1,011.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 10.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1% Native American, 0.09% from other races, and 0.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 87.4% of the population.

There were 768 households, out of which 47.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.2% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,780, and the median income for a family was $26,143. Males had a median income of $20,844 versus $18,036 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,289. About 27.1% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 22.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

 * Public high schools:
 * 1) Center High School - grades 9 - 12
 * 2) The Academic Recovery Center of San Luis Valley - grades 9 - 12
 * Public elementary/middle schools:
 * 1) Haskin Elementary School
 * 2) Skoglund Middle School - grades 6 - 8
 * Private elementary/middle school in Center:
 * 1) High Valley Christian School

title: Center, Colorado


text:
Del Norte, Colorado

Del Norte is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town's name is most commonly pronounced /ˈdɛl nɔɹt/. The town population was 1,458 at the 2020 United States Census.

History
Del Norte is named from the river Rio Grande del Norte, or "large river of the north". There is abundant evidence in the area in the form of arrowheads and campsites of ancient peoples living around Del Norte thousands of years ago, such as the Folsom people. Afterwards, the Utes were known to live around Del Norte and the rest of the San Luis Valley, going back hundreds of years prior to Euro-American contact. They lived here temporarily in the warmer months because of the abundance of wild game, plants, water, and timber in the area – winters were often too cold and harsh for them to settle permanently. Spanish and Mexican peoples were the first non-natives to explore the nearby land, coming from Santa Fe and other parts of New Mexico. They were interested in surveying the 'Rio del Norte', or 'River of the North' – hence the origin of the town's name. This was the original name of the Rio Grande headwaters prior to numerous name changes over the years.

Under Mexican jurisdiction, Hispanic families began moving into the area during the early to mid-19th century as part of land grants to help the Mexican government fill and occupy the territory. However, large-scale settlements were difficult to establish because the Utes were weary and very hostile towards Euro-American settlement, and would chase off many people who attempted to do so. The most successful early settlement nearby was called 'La Loma', established a few miles east of where the current town site is today. This area was chosen because there was a particular section of the Rio Grande here where it could be crossed safely and easily – one of few known for miles during this time. After the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed in 1848, jurisdiction of the land in and around Del Norte transferred from Mexico to the United States, but settlement by Americans in the area was delayed by civil strife (including the American Civil War) throughout the 1850s and 1860s. Most American settlements began in the area around the early 1870s, by prospectors searching the nearby mountains for minerals, such as gold and silver, particularly near an eventual boom-town named Summitville, located at the base of South Mountain near Bennett Peak.

These peaks in the San Juan Mountains were some of the last parts of Colorado where miners were allowed to explore and prospect for minerals, and they were finally able to do so after the Brunot Treaty was signed between the U.S. government and the Utes in 1873. Once the mines proved profitable, Del Norte was officially established around 1874, in order to serve as a base camp for the mines, not just in Summitville, but also in nearby Creede and Lake City. Miners quickly moved into the area, and they were followed by ranchers and farmers. Many of these original farming and ranching families still have operations and live in the Del Norte area to this day. After the Sherman Act was repealed in 1893, mining operations quickly became unprofitable and ceased. The 'glory days' of Del Norte ended as quickly as they began, but the community still survived because of ranching and agriculture. There was a small movement across southern Colorado throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s to secede from the State of Colorado and create the state of San Juan, with Del Norte becoming its capital city; however, this secession movement died quickly.

Del Norte would see cycles of boom and bust throughout the 20th century, but has recently become a blossoming community, due to the abundance of recreational activities provided by the area's unique geography, such as mountain biking, hiking, running, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, rafting and kayaking, cross country skiing, camping, etc. Del Norte is also one of the communities which provides lodging for the nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area. Grande Avenue, the main street through Del Norte, still has many of the facades on its storefronts from the 1800s and early 1900s, reminding its residents and tourists of the town's historic past. In 2019, the Rio Grande National Forest announced that it will be moving its headquarters from nearby Monte Vista to Del Norte, and the town announced that it will be improving its riverwalk to include a white-water park along the Rio Grande.

Physical geography
Relatively-speaking, it is located where the Rio Grande leaves the San Juan Mountains and enters the San Luis Valley, near its confluences with Pinos Creek and San Francisco Creek, respectively. Due to its location on the western edge of the valley, a variety of climates, vegetation regions, and ecosystems transition into each other at or around Del Norte. Within a twenty mile radius of the town, from alpine tundra, montane forests, to high-altitude desert. Common vegetation around Del Norte ranges from coniferous pine trees, deciduous aspen trees and cottonwoods, to sagebrush and cacti. During the warmer months of the year, hollyhock, cosmos, poppies, and sunflowers are frequently found around the town. Lookout Mountain (also known to locals as 'D' Mountain) overlooks the town, and is perhaps its most notable landmark. The classification of 'mountain' has been a misnomer, considering that 'D' Mountain has a mild prominence from the rest of the town (approximately 591 feet), and that there is nearby terrain with much greater prominence; however, the classification has stuck since early settlement.

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 2.547 km2, all of it land.

Climate
Like most places in the San Luis Valley, Del Norte is generally categorized in a semi-arid or a high-altitude desert climate. Precipitation is the main factor that determines this classification year-to-year, as it can fluctuate from as many as 10-12 inches annually in a wetter year, to 6 inches or less during a drought year. One reason precipitation varies greatly year-to-year is because the town is located in a rain shadow created by the San Juan Mountains. Because of this, precipitation is often determined by how strong and intense storm fronts are, and how these fronts move across the area. This explains why Wolf Creek Ski Area, located about 28 miles west of town, receives on average over 400 inches of snow per year, while Del Norte receives about 10% of that amount – about 40 inches of snow annually. Most precipitation falls in the form of rain or snow; hail and sleet are uncommon, but not unheard of. In general, one can expect in Del Norte to experience mild summers and cold winters, with spring and autumn varying between these. Springtime in the area generally includes gusty winds, and many of the year's strongest snowstorms actually happen during this season. Summer monsoons can hit the area as well, beginning in July and continuing through the end of September. During summer monsoons, the area generally experiences sunny mornings with clouds and storms moving in during the afternoon, and varying amounts of precipitation ranging from light drizzles of rain to brief, torrential downpours. Like most of Colorado, night time temperatures can drop quickly and intensely, because of the dry climate and the lack of moisture in the air.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,705 people, 657 households, and 446 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,004.4 PD/sqmi. There were 736 housing units at an average density of 865.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 66.86% White, 0.12% African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 27.68% from other races, and 3.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.36% of the population.

There were 657 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,833, and the median income for a family was $29,471. Males had a median income of $26,161 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,751. About 22.1% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people born here

 * Alva B. Adams-US Senator representing Colorado.
 * Kent Rominger-Astronaut attended Del Norte High School.

title: Del Norte, Colorado


text:
Monte Vista, Colorado

The City of Monte Vista is the home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 4,247 at the 2020 Census.

History
Monte Vista was laid out in 1884. The site had previously served as a watering stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Monte Vista is the Spanish translation of "mountain view."

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which, 1.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (2.56%) is water.

Culture
Monte Vista is served by the Carnegie Public Library.

Every March, nearly 20,000 Sandhill Cranes descend on the San Luis Valley before continuing their northward spring migration.

Climate
Monte Vista has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).

title: Monte Vista, Colorado


text:
South Fork, Colorado

South Fork is a statutory town in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. It lies at the confluence of the South Fork and Rio Grande rivers. The population was 510 at the 2020 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 sqmi, all land.

History
South Fork was once the site of timber milling operations.

South Fork was founded in 1882, by which date its location was already marked by the presence of a coaching post, dating from the construction of the railroad connection of the Rio Grande Western Railroad line to Creede, which had been built to support the Creede silver mine. It was only in 1992 that South Fork achieved independent statutory town status, making it the youngest statutory town in the state. Originally the principal economic activities involved forestry and mining, but in recent decades these have been overtaken in the employment statistics by tourism.

South Fork made Colorado headlines during the Summer of 2020 when its town board announced that solicitations for donations was unlawful within town limits. This was in response to a local farmer's market in which one of its vendors was asking people for donations to the Black Lives Matter movement and the NAACP.

Demographics
South Fork has about 600 permanent residents, but a substantially larger summer population due to seasonal residents and visitors.

title: South Fork, Colorado


text:
Hayden, Colorado

The Town of Hayden is a home rule municipality located in Routt County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,941 at the 2020 United States Census. Hayden is a part of the Steamboat Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town sits along U.S. Highway 40 in the Yampa River Valley between Craig and Steamboat Springs. Hayden is located near the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, by which Hayden is one of the smallest communities in the U.S. to have mainline passenger jet service provided by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines on a scheduled basis.

History
The Ute people used the area for summer hunting before the town was settled. Trappers worked in the area in the early 1800s.

The area was first settled in 1875, with the town established in 1894 and incorporated in 1906. Hayden was named for F.V. Hayden, head of a survey party for the U.S. Geological & Geographic Survey in the late 1860s. Hayden explored western Colorado during the late nineteenth century.

The Denver and Salt Lake Railway reached Hayden by 1916, and the rail line continues on today as part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Historically a center of coal mining and agriculture, it consists today of a small cluster of homes and businesses.

Geography
At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 8.490 km2, all of it land.

Climate
The Town of Hayden has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), with warm summers, cold winters with heavy snow, and equal precipitation year-round. The frost-free growing season is short, averaging 107 days.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,634 people, 618 households, and 443 families residing in the town. The population density was 664.1 PD/sqmi. There were 658 housing units at an average density of 267.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.02% White, 0.12% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.69% of the population.

There were 618 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,147, and the median income for a family was $45,962. Males had a median income of $38,150 versus $23,359 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,574. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Earl Bascom (1906-1995) - Hollywood actor, artist, sculptor, inventor, rodeo pioneer who lived and cowboyed in Hayden in the 1930s.
 * Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939) - painter of the Old American West, known for his "moonlight painting" technique, who worked on the Lazy 7 Ranch of Hayden.

title: Hayden, Colorado


text:
Oak Creek, Colorado

Oak Creek is a Statutory Town in Routt County, Colorado, United States. The population was 889 at the 2020 census.

History
The town was incorporated in 1907 as a coal mining town. The community was named for scrub oak near the original town site.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 sqmi, all of it land.

title: Oak Creek, Colorado