Colorado City, Colorado

This article is about the present-day census-designated place. For the historic Colorado City, see Old Colorado City.

Colorado City, Colorado
Census-designated place
Entering Colorado City along State Highway 165, December 2014
Entering Colorado City along State Highway 165, December 2014
Location of the Colorado City CDP in Pueblo County, Colorado.
Location of the Colorado City CDP in Pueblo County, Colorado.
Colorado City is located in the United States
Colorado City
Colorado City
Location of the Colorado City CDP in the United States.
Coordinates: 37°55′27″N 104°51′43″W / 37.92417°N 104.86194°W / 37.92417; -104.86194 (Colorado City CDP, Colorado)[1]
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyPueblo County
Government
 • Typemetropolitan district
Area
[2]
 • Total
15.070 sq mi (39.030 km2)
 • Land14.956 sq mi (38.735 km2)
 • Water0.114 sq mi (0.295 km2)
Elevation
[1]
5,919 ft (1,804 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
2,237
 • Density150/sq mi (57/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code[4]
81019
Area code719
GNIS feature ID2407647[1]
FIPS code08-15935
Websitewww.colorado.gov/coloradocitymetro

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).[4] At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Colorado City CDP was 2,237.[3] The Colorado City Metropolitan District provides services.

Geography

Colorado City is located in the Greenhorn Valley.[5]

The Colorado City CDP has an area of 9,645 acres (39.030 km2), including 73 acres (0.295 km2) of water.[2]

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."[6]

Demographics

Colorado City CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
19901,149—    
20002,018+75.6%
20102,193+8.7%
20202,237+2.0%
Source: United States Census Bureau

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

Government

The Colorado City public library, May 2015

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[7] 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.[8][9] Colorado City also has a public golf course and club house.[10]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Colorado City is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Trinidad-Pueblo Outrider line.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Colorado City, Colorado
  2. ^ a b "State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "Colorado City CDP, Colorado". Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Look Up a ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "Colorado City: Greenhorn Valley's scenic hub". The Pueblo Chieftain. May 19, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Dodds, Joanne West. "Greenhorn Chronology". Greenhorn Valley History. Pueblo City-County Library. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Metro Board". Colorado City Metropolitan District. State of Colorado. 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "CCPR—Lake Beckwith information". Colorado City Parks and Recreation. 2016. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "Lake Beckwith State Wildlife Area" (PDF). Colorado Parks and Wildlife. January 31, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "Hollydot Golf Club". Hollydot Golf Club. 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.
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