Pea Green Corner, Colorado

Pea Green Corner, Colorado
Unincorporated community
The Pea Green Store
The Pea Green Store
Pea Green Corner is located in Colorado
Pea Green Corner
Pea Green Corner
Pea Green Corner is located in the United States
Pea Green Corner
Pea Green Corner
Coordinates: 38°39′00″N 108°05′42″W / 38.65000°N 108.09500°W / 38.65000; -108.09500[1]
Country United States
StateColorado
CountyMontrose
Elevation
[1]
5,309 ft (1,618 m)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
81425
Area code970
GNIS feature ID185532[1]
Pea Green's community house

Pea Green Corner is an unincorporated community in Montrose County, Colorado, United States. An agricultural community, its center lies at the intersection of Colorado State Highway 348 and Banner Road.[2] Pea Green Corner is 7.9 miles (12.7 km) southwest of Delta, Colorado[3] and 9.6 miles (15.4 km) northwest of Olathe via Colorado State Highway 348, which connects the communities.

Pea Green Corner's name stems from the color of its community hall and general store.[2] In addition to the store and community house, the former school stands near the community's main intersection.

History

The area was used by the Ute prior to their removal to Utah in 1881. After Herman Darling moved into the Uncompahgre Valley in 1884,[4] he built a sawmill at an intersection known as Transfer, where lumber hauled off the plateau was sorted, graded, and hauled to Delta and Olathe.[5] It was followed by the development of wells along the Transfer Road,[6] the first being in the current Pea Green area, a blacksmith shop, and the schoolhouse.

The community's name comes from the pea green paint, provided by the federal government, used to paint the school house after it was completed in 1887. Education through eighth grade was offered at the Pea Green School through 1962[7] or 1963.[8]

The Pea Green Community House, completed in 1927, was built by the Pea Green Community Club. The building is on the county heritage register[9] and Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.[10][8]

Geography

Pea Green Corner is located on California Mesa. It is 9.6 miles (15.4 km) northwest of Olathe via Colorado State Highway 348, which goes through both communities.

Economy

Pea Green is primarily a farming and ranching community with corn, onions, and pinto beans cultivated on area farms. Regional specialty Olathe sweet corn is grown near Pea Green.

Education

Public education for students in Montrose County is provided by Montrose County School District RE-1J. The Pea Green Corner area located in Montrose County is zoned to Olathe Elementary School and Olathe Middle and High School.

The nearest college or university to Pea Green Corner is the regional campus of Colorado Mesa University in Montrose, 19.6 miles (31.5 km) from Pea Green Corner.

Arts and culture

The Pea Green Community House hosts a seasonal bluegrass concert series, Pea Green Saturday Night. After fifteen years of shows, the series went on hiatus in February 2020 and resumed in January 2023.[11][12]

Pea Green Corner is also home to a twice-annual vintage and antiques fair, Pickin' at the Pea.[3] The fair occupies the Pea Green Store, former school, and surrounding grounds.

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pea Green Corner, Colorado
  2. ^ a b Carlson, Stu (June 19, 2019). "High country highlights: Pea Green Colorado - picker's paradise". High Country Shopper. Paonia, Colorado. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Borden, Guy; Borden, Lynn (April 3, 2015). "Where the heck is Pea Green?". Borden Farms at Pea Green. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  4. ^ MONTROSE COUNTY. Interviews collected during 1933-34 for the State Historical Society of Colorado, by C. W. A. Workers (PDF). 1933–1934. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Switzer, Caitlin. "Outlook still rosy in old Pea Green". San Juan Silver Stage. San Juan Publishing Group, Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Cox, Marilyn (October 13, 2010). "What is the Transfer Road?". Montrose Daily Press. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Cox, Marilyn (August 16, 2017). "Pea Green will forever be a living legend". Montrose Daily Press. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Pea Green Community House receives historic designation". Delta County Independent. September 13, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Current Landmarks". Montrose County. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "Pea Green Community Hall". History Colorado. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Woody, William (February 6, 2023). "Pea Green Saturday Night returns after 2-year pandemic-induced hiatus". Delta County Independent. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Steig, Stina (February 24, 2023). "In tiny Pea Green Corner, brothers from different mothers revive their show lost during the COVID pandemic". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved February 24, 2023.