Allenspark, Colorado

Last updated
Allenspark, Colorado
Census Designated Place
Meeker 03032014.jpg
Looking west toward Allenspark, Wild Basin and Mount Meeker in the background, Turkey Rock front left. DeWeese photo, 2014.
Boulder County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Allenspark Highlighted 0801420.svg
Location of the Allenspark CDP in Boulder County, Colorado
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Allenspark
Location of the Allenspark CDP in the United States.
Coordinates: 40°12′35″N105°30′40″W / 40.2097996°N 105.5111610°W / 40.2097996; -105.5111610 (Allenspark CDP, Colorado) Coordinates: 40°12′35″N105°30′40″W / 40.2097996°N 105.5111610°W / 40.2097996; -105.5111610 (Allenspark CDP, Colorado) [1]
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
County Boulder County
Government
[2]
 • Type unincorporated town
Area
[1]
 • Total11.940 sq mi (30.924 km2)
 • Land11.927 sq mi (30.891 km2)
 • Water0.013 sq mi (0.033 km2)
Elevation
[2]
8,428 ft (2,569 m)
Population
 (2020) [3]
 • Total568
 • Density48/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code [4]
80510
Area codes 303 & 720
Highways Colorado 7.svg SH 7
GNIS feature [2] Allenspark CDP
Allenspark, Colorado, circa 1907. Allenspark Hotel, Crystal Springs Lodge, and the Bishop family's two-story home at center. Mount Meeker in background. Allenspark Co circa 1907.jpg
Allenspark, Colorado, circa 1907. Allenspark Hotel, Crystal Springs Lodge, and the Bishop family's two-story home at center. Mount Meeker in background.

Allenspark is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Allenspark post office has the ZIP code 80510. [4] At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Allenspark CDP was 568. [3]

Contents

History

Allenspark is a park in the geographical sense—it is a high meadow surrounded by mountains. While it was first visited by Native Americans and later by trappers, Allen's Park—now spelled Allenspark—got its name from a miner who built the first cabin in the area. [5]

During the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859, Allenspark's namesake, Alonzo Nelson Allen, left his family in Columbus, Wisconsin, to seek his fortune in the Kansas/Nebraska Territories that became Colorado. He settled on the St. Vrain River, south of the current city of Longmont, Colorado.

Allen prospected and ran cattle in Allenspark and built a cabin there in 1864. The cabin burned down in 1894, the year Allen died. [6]

The village of Allenspark is situated on part of the original George Mack homestead, site of Crystal Springs, an excellent water source. After Mack's homestead patent was granted on January 7, 1895, [7] Mack sold some of the land to the Allens Park Land and Townsite Co. on May 9, 1896. The land company filed a plat for the village on May 23, 1896, [8] and began selling small building lots.

In Weaving Mountain Memories, Lorna Knowlton writes, "George Pheifer, a prominent early settler who came into Allenspark over the Stone Mountain Road from Lyons in 1896, said Allen never homesteaded his land but merely squatted on it in 1864. Pheifer said, 'All Alonzo Allen ever did for Allenspark was to give it a name.'" [6]

In the late 1890s, most residents of the Allenspark area were farmers or ranchers, but by the early 1900s there was a resurgence in gold fever. The Clara Belle Mining and Reduction Co. attracted investors from as far away as Omaha, Nebraska, for what turned out to be a folly. Meanwhile, tourism was booming, and farmers and miners alike found a better income catering to tourists during the summer months. The first post office application was filed on May 29, 1896, by C.K. Hirshfeld. [9]

The village of Allenspark began to grow when summer people bought land and built cabins from around 1900 to 1920. Many people came up the South St. Vrain canyon from Longmont, and a number came from as far away as Kansas and Oklahoma in that initial burst. The greater Allenspark area extends beyond the village to include the small communities of Ferncliff, Longs Peak, Meeker Park, Peaceful Valley, Raymond, and Riverside, and is defined by the boundaries of the Allenspark Fire Protection District.

Allenspark remained primarily a summer destination until improved roads and modern technology made mountain living easier than it used to be. Now, many people live year-round in the Allenspark area. In 2000, 500 residences were listed in the phone book. [10] The 2010 census counted a total of 892 housing units, 267 of which were occupied on Census Day (April 1) and 577 of which were seasonally occupied. [11]

Many businesses are still only open during the summer. Businesses include restaurants, lodges, summer camps, coffee shop, and gift shops. There is a filling station and grocery store in Ferncliff, however cell-phone coverage is nearly non-existent. [12]

Map of Allenspark, Colorado, area ski jumps and slopes from the early to mid-Twentieth Century. copyright, Edie DeWeese, 2019. Allenspark ski jumps map.jpg
Map of Allenspark, Colorado, area ski jumps and slopes from the early to mid-Twentieth Century. copyright, Edie DeWeese, 2019.

Skiing was popular in the Allenspark area in the 1920s and 1930s, when international ski jumping competitions were held. Jumps and ski courses included the Willow Creek Slide, Thelma Slide, Butter Bowl, Haugen Slide, and Point-O-Pines. The Rock Creek Ski area was developed after World War II and operated until 1952. Cross-country skiing is still popular, especially on Rock Creek and in Wild Basin. [13]

Geography

Allenspark is located in northwest Boulder County within Roosevelt National Forest in the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. The western edge of the community is the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. State Highway 7 passes through the community, leading north 15 miles (24 km) to Estes Park and east 19 miles (31 km) to Lyons. The center of Allenspark is at an elevation of 8,428 feet (2,569 m).

The Allenspark CDP has an area of 7,641 acres (30.924 km2) including 8.2 acres (0.033 km2) of water. [1]

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Aetna Estates CDP for the 2000 United States Census.

Allenspark CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
2000 496—    
2010 528+6.5%
2020 568+7.6%
Source: United States Census Bureau

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver metropolitan area</span> Place in Colorado, United States

Denver is the central city of a conurbation region in the U.S. state of Colorado. The conurbation includes one continuous region consisting of the six central counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. The Denver region is part of the Front Range Urban Corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulder County, Colorado</span> County in Colorado, United States

Boulder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado of the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 330,758. The most populous municipality in the county and the county seat is Boulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldora, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Eldora, previously known as "Eldorado" then "El-Dora", then Eldora or Camp Eldorado, and still called Happy Valley, is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Eldora CDP was 140 at the United States Census 2020. The Nederland post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldorado Springs, Colorado</span> Census-designated place in Colorado, United States

Eldorado Springs is an unincorporated community, a census-designated place (CDP) and a post office located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Eldorado Springs post office has the ZIP code 80025. At the 2020 United States census, the population of the Eldorado Springs CDP was 559.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunbarrel, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Gunbarrel is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Gunbarrel CDP was 9,554 at the United States Census 2020. The Boulder post office and Longmont and Niwot post offices serve the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longmont, Colorado</span> City in Colorado, United States

Longmont is a home rule municipality located in Boulder and Weld counties, Colorado, United States. Longmont is located northeast of the county seat of Boulder and 33 miles (53 km) north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyons, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

The Town of Lyons is a Statutory Town in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2033 at the 2010 United States Census, up from 1585 at the 2000 United States Census. Lyons is located at the confluence of North St. Vrain Creek and South St. Vrain Creek, 20 miles (32 km) east of Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to its location at the intersection of State Highway 7 and U.S. Highway 36 which lead to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is sometimes referred to as "The Double Gateway to the Rockies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niwot, Colorado</span> Census-designated place in Colorado, U.S.

Niwot is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Niwot post office has the ZIP Codes 80503 and 80544. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Niwot CDP was 4,306.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estes Park, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Estes Park is a statutory town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 5,904 at the 2020 United States Census. Estes Park is a part of the Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Landmarks include The Stanley Hotel and The Baldpate Inn. The town overlooks Lake Estes and Olympus Dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Vrain Creek</span> River in Colorado, United States

St. Vrain Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 32.2 miles (51.8 km) long, in north central Colorado in the United States. It drains part of the foothills north of Boulder and the Colorado Piedmont area in the vicinity of Longmont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rollinsville, Colorado</span> Census-designated place in Gilpin County, Colorado, United States

Rollinsville is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office in and governed by Gilpin County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Rollinsville post office has the ZIP Code 80474. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Rollinsville CDP was 194.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado State Highway 7</span> State highway in Colorado, United States

State Highway 7 (SH 7) is an 81.64-mile (131.39 km) state highway in Colorado, United States. It is located in the north-central portion of the state, traversing the mountains on the east of the continental divide south of Estes Park as well as portions of the Colorado Piedmont north of Denver. The northwestern segment of the highway is part of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and furnishes an access route to Estes Park, Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. In its southeast portion it skirts the northern end of the Denver Metropolitan Area, providing an access route connecting Boulder, Lafayette and Brighton with Interstate 25 (I-25) and Interstate 76 (I-76).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Central Colorado Urban Area</span> Metropolitan area of Colorado

The North Central Colorado Urban Area comprises the four contiguous metropolitan statistical areas in the north central region of the State of Colorado: the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area. With the exception of southeastern Elbert County, southeastern Park County, and tiny portions of southern Douglas County, the entire North Central Colorado Urban Area is drained by the South Platte River and its tributaries. The North Central Colorado Urban Area is the central, and the most populous, of the three primary subregions of the Front Range Urban Corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hygiene, Colorado</span> Unincorporated community in Boulder County, Colorado

Hygiene is an unincorporated community with a U.S. Post Office in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. Application for the first Hygiene Post Office was made by Jacob Stoner Flory of the United Church of the Brethren on May 28, 1883. Originally named Pella, the community's present name stems from a time when it had a sanatorium to work with tuberculosis patients. St. Vrain Church of the Brethren, a historic Church of the Brethren congregation, is located in the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altona, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Altona is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Altona CDP was 512 at the United States Census 2020. The Boulder post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Vrain State Park</span> State park in Weld County, Colorado

St. Vrain State Park, formerly known as Barbour Ponds, is a Colorado state park. The park hosts year-round camping. It is a popular birding destination, hosting the states largest rookery of Blue Heron, it is home to several other bird species as well including migrating waterfowl, songbirds and the occasional bald eagle. Other park activities include year round fishing and hiking. There are plans for a reservoir to be built at the park named Blue Heron Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bark Ranch, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Bark Ranch is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The Bark Ranch CDP encompasses the Bar-K Ranch housing community. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Bark Ranch CDP was 202 at the United States Census 2020. The Ward post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonanza Mountain Estates, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Bonanza Mountain Estates is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Bonanza Mountain Estates CDP was 127 at the United States Census 2020. The Nederland post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hidden Lake, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Hidden Lake is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Hidden Lake CDP was 24 at the United States Census 2020. The Ward post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front Range urban corridor</span> Megaregion in Colorado and Wyoming, United States

The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains, encompassing 18 counties in the US states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the western boundary of the corridor which serves as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. The region comprises the northern portion of the Southern Rocky Mountain Front geographic area, which in turn comprises the southern portion of the Rocky Mountain Front geographic area of Canada and the United States. The Front Range Urban Corridor had a population of 5,055,344 at the 2020 Census, an increase of +16.65% since the 2010 Census.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Domestic Names". United States Geological Survey . Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  3. 1 2 United States Census Bureau. "Allenspark CDP, Colorado" . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Look Up a ZIP Code". United States Postal Service . Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ Knowlton, Lorna, and DeWeese, Edie (2011). Weaving Mountain Memories: Recollections of the Allenspark Area, p. 3. Allenspark: Allenspark Wind.
  6. 1 2 Knowlton, p. 4.
  7. ↑ Homestead Patent COCOAA 004669; General Land Office Records, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  8. ↑ Boulder County Clerk and Recorder; Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  9. ↑ Knowlton, p. 97.
  10. ↑ "Community Wildfire Protection Plan," Allenspark, Colorado (2009). Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  11. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Allenspark CDP, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Home | Ferncliff Food & Fuel".
  13. ↑ Knowlton, p. 143.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.