Idalia was originally founded founded in 1887 as Alva.[5] The Alva, Colorado, post office operated from August 6, 187, until September 18, 1888, when the name was changed to Idalia.[6] The community derives its name from Edaliah Helmick, a pioneer settler.[7]
Located on the Eastern Plains of Colorado in southern Yuma County, approximately 150 miles east of Denver and 15 miles from the Kansas border, Idalia has been home for many generations of families. The primary industries of the area are farming, ranching, and natural gas production. The community has many amenities for a small rural community, including the Idalia Vision Foundation, Inc., two churches, local Co-Op, convenience store, restaurants, and a motel.[5] A new Kindergarten through grade-12 school building opened in the fall of 2013 providing state-of-the-art educational programs & facilities.
Community members headed a project aimed at emulating the summer annual town celebrations of neighboring towns. The event, Idalia Days, takes place each summer if enough interest is provided. During its inaugural celebration, Idalia Days provided activities and events in which the community could partake. Drawing on themes used in previous town celebrations, events include bed races, an old-time baseball game, old man six-man football, a melodrama illustrating the history of the towns relocation, a softball tournament, and a town dance, often featuring live music and food.
Education
There is one school, Idalia School, which teaches preschool through twelfth grade. The school mascot is the wolf.[10][11] The town also has a preschool and daycare.
Timeline
(1950) First students graduate from the Idalia school.
(1970's) A high school wing was added to the preexisting school.
(2012-2013) The old school is torn down and a new school is built after the State of Colorado awards Idalia the BEST grant.
Sports
Due to low enrollment of the high school, Idalia, like hundreds of schools throughout Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Texas, plays six-man football, a variation of football involving six players on each side off the ball rather than the traditional eleven. Idalia had a dominant program from the late 1990s into the 2000s, winning eight state titles between 1998 and 2010.[13] In recent years, the football program has struggled in the face of low-enrollment and as rival schools have consolidated sports programs in the wake of their own enrollment and budgetary constraints.[14]
However, as the football program continues to rebuild, the Idalia girls' sports teams have had some very successful years. In 2015, the Idalia girls' volleyball team advanced to the Colorado Class 1A volleyball championship match, ultimately falling to Otis High School in five sets.[15] In addition, the girls' basketball program won consecutive state championships in 2015 and 2016.[16][17][18]
