Severance, Colorado

Town of Severance, Colorado
Town
Motto(s): 
Where the geese fly and the bulls cry[2]
Location of Severance in Weld County, Colorado.
Location of Severance in Weld County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 40°31′24″N 104°51′04″W / 40.52333°N 104.85111°W / 40.52333; -104.85111
Country United States
State Colorado
County[1]Weld County
Founded1906[3]
IncorporatedNovember 20, 1920[4]
Government
 • TypeHome rule municipality[5]
 • MayorMatthew Fries
 • Mayor Pro TemporeBrittany Vandermark
Area
[6]
 • Total
9.19 sq mi (23.79 km2)
 • Land9.07 sq mi (23.49 km2)
 • Water0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation
[7]
4,876 ft (1,486 m)
Population
 (2020)[8]
 • Total
7,683
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9]
11,500
 • Density840/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes[10]
80524, 80546 (PO Box), 80550, 80610, 80615
Area code970
FIPS code08-69150
GNIS feature ID2413272[7]
Websitetownofseverance.org

Severance is a home rule municipality[5] in Weld County, Colorado, United States. Its population was 7,683 at the 2020 census.[9], an increase of 142.75% from 2010, with a now estimated population of 10,820. The town is located on the Colorado Eastern Plains, northwest of Greeley. A post office in Severance has been in operation since 1894.[11]

The community was named after David Severance, a pioneer settler in the area. The town originally applied for its post office to be named Tailholt, but the name was mistakenly changed to Severance when Mr. Severance applied for the post office.[3]

Geography

The Great Western Bike and Pedestrian Trail runs through the center of the town in a northeast-southwest manner. The path runs along the former route of the Great Western Railway, extending southwest to Windsor and northeast, after bending due east, to Eaton.[12]

Education

The following list contains a number of Weld RE-4[clarification needed] public schools located in Severance.[13]

  • Severance High School
  • Severance Middle School
  • Rangeview Elementary

Demographics

Feed store in Severance. Agriculture remains the primary industry of the town, despite the construction of new residences in recent years.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town's median household income is $121,047 with 43.6% of residents having received a Bachelor's Degree or Higher. Additionally, the 2020 Census states that there are 2,918 households, although the estimated number of households is now over 4,000, and the average age in Severance is 33.3.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1940138—
1950108−21.7%
196070−35.2%
197059−15.7%
198010272.9%
19901063.9%
2000597463.2%
20103,165430.2%
20207,683142.7%
2023 (est.)10,820[9]40.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
High school football
Friday Knight Lights, the first game of the year for the Severance High School Silver Knights
Sunset at Blue Spruce Pond
Sunset at Blue Spruce Park in Severance

Governance

The town previously had a ban on snowball fights, which was repealed in 2018 after a 9-year-old advocated for the repeal.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  2. ^ "Colorado Town Mottos and Nicknames". Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "History of the Town of Severance". Town of Severance. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Town of Severance Charter" (PDF). Town of Severance. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Town of Severance". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Severance town, Colorado". Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Severance, CO QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  11. ^ "Post offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Great Western Trail Windsor – Severance – Eaton". Great Western Trail Authority. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Best Public Schools in Severance, Colorado & Rankings - SchoolDigger.com". SchoolDigger. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "Boy gets Colorado town to overturn snowball fight ban". BBC News. December 4, 2018.