Battlement Mesa, Colorado

Last updated
Battlement Mesa, Colorado
census-designated place
Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse 2021.JPG
The Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse in 2021
Nickname: 
"The Colorado Dream" [1]
Garfield County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Battlement Mesa Highlighted 0805120.svg
Location of the Battlement Mesa CDP in Garfield County, Colorado.
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Battlement Mesa
Location of Battlement Mesa, Colorado.
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Battlement Mesa
Battlement Mesa (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°26′29″N108°01′30″W / 39.4414°N 108.0251°W / 39.4414; -108.0251 [2]
Country United States
State Colorado
County Garfield [3]
Government
 • Type unincorporated community
 • Body Garfield County [3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
11.684 sq mi (30.261 km2)
 • Land11.459 sq mi (29.678 km2)
 • Water0.225 sq mi (0.583 km2)
Elevation
[2]
5,489 ft (1,673 m)
Population
 (2020) [5]
 • Total
5,438
 • Density470/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone UTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP Code [6]
81635 and 81636
Area code 970
GNIS pop ID 1867077
GNIS town ID 2407805
FIPS code 08-05120

Battlement Mesa is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office in and governed by Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Glenwood Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Battlement Mesa post office has the ZIP Codes 81635 and 81636 (for post office boxes). [6] At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Battlement Mesa CDP was 5,438. [5] The Battlement Mesa Metropolitan District provides services.

Contents

Description

The community, which bills itself as a "covenant-controlled community", is primarily a group of contiguous subdivisions developed in the later decades of the 20th century, catering to families and retirees. It is located on the flank of a hill on the south side of the Colorado River, across from the older town of Parachute. The two communities together are known as "Parachute-Battlement Mesa". The town takes its name from Battlement Mesa, an 11,000-foot-high (3,400 m) basalt-topped mesa that sits to the south of the town.

History

The Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse in 1981, prior to its restoration Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse.jpg
The Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse in 1981, prior to its restoration

The community was first developed by an oil company as a residence for its workers in the expectation that the rising price of oil would make shale oil extraction economically viable. When adjusted oil prices fell, the housing estate was left as a stranded asset, and the oil company marketed it to retirees in conjunction with a real estate firm.[ citation needed ]

Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse

The Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse, located at 7201 300 Road, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The rear portion of the building was built in 1897 with stone from a local quarry. The front portion was added in 1907, also using stone from the same quarry. By the late 1940s, the building was no longer used as a schoolhouse but was used for community gatherings and events. However, the local population declined, and the schoolhouse fell into disuse and was looted and vandalized. [7] In 2003, the State Historical Fund awarded a grant to The Grand Valley Historical Society to restore the school building. [8]

Geography

Battlement Mesa is located in Garfield County on the south side of the Colorado River. It is bordered to the northwest, across the river, by the town of Parachute. Interstate 70 passes through Parachute, providing access to Battlement Mesa from Exit 75. I-70 leads east 42 miles (68 km) to Glenwood Springs, the Garfield County seat, and southwest 45 miles (72 km) to Grand Junction. Denver is 200 miles (320 km) east via I-70.

At the 2020 United States census, the Battlement Mesa CDP had an area of 7,478 acres (30.261 km2), including 144 acres (0.583 km2) of water. [4]

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Battlement Mesa has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. [9]

Climate data for Battlement Mesa, Colorado
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)3
(37)		8
(46)		13
(56)		18
(65)		24
(75)		30
(86)		34
(93)		32
(90)		27
(81)		20
(68)		12
(53)		4
(39)		19
(66)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−11
(12)		−8
(18)		−3
(26)		1
(33)		4
(40)		9
(48)		13
(55)		12
(53)		7
(44)		0
(32)		−5
(23)		−11
(13)		1
(33)
Average precipitation mm (inches)28
(1.1)		25
(1)		33
(1.3)		28
(1.1)		36
(1.4)		20
(0.8)		23
(0.9)		28
(1.1)		36
(1.4)		33
(1.3)		30
(1.2)		28
(1.1)		340
(13.5)
Source: Weatherbase [10]

Demographics

Battlement Mesa CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
1990 1,477—    
2000 3,497+136.8%
2010 4,471+27.9%
2020 5,438+21.6%
Source: United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Battlement Mesa CDP for the 1990 United States census.

Education

Battlement Mesa is served by Garfield County School District 16, which also serves the neighboring town of Parachute.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Battlement Mesa - The Colorado Dream". battlementmesacolorado.com.
  2. 1 2 "Battlement Mesa, Colorado". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  5. 1 2 United States Census Bureau. "Battlement Mesa CDP, Colorado" . Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Look Up a ZIP Code". United States Postal Service . Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places inventory — nomination form: Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse". United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 1982-10-28. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  8. ↑ Graff, Ryan. "Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse gets grant for restoration". PostIndependent. Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  9. ↑ Climate Summary for Battlement Mesa, Colorado
  10. ↑ "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
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