Clifton, Colorado

Last updated
Clifton, Colorado
census-designated place
Clifton, Colorado.JPG
F Road (U.S. Route 6) in Clifton looking toward Grand Mesa
Mesa County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Clifton Highlighted 0815165.svg
Location in Mesa County, Colorado
Usa edcp location map.svg
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Clifton
Location of the Clifton CDP, Colorado.
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Clifton
Clifton (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°05′31″N108°26′56″W / 39.0919°N 108.4490°W / 39.0919; -108.4490 (Clifton, Colorado) [1]
Country United States
State Colorado
County Mesa [2]
Government
 • Type unincorporated community
 • Body Mesa County [2]
Area
[3]
 • Total
6.061 sq mi (15.70 km2)
 • Land5.988 sq mi (15.51 km2)
 • Water0.073 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
[1]
4,721 ft (1,439 m)
Population
 (2020) [4]
 • Total
20,413
 • Density3,409.0/sq mi (1,316.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code [5]
81520 & 81504
Area codes 970/748
GNIS place ID 174618
GNIS CDP ID 2407634
FIPS code 08-15165

Clifton is an unincorporated community, a census-designated place (CDP), and a post office in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. [6] The Clifton post office has the ZIP Code 81520. [5] As of the 2020 census, the population of the Clifton CDP was 20,413. [4]

Contents

History

The Clifton, Colorado, post office opened on August 18, 1900 [7] The community was named for cliffs near the town site. [8]

Geography

Clifton is in central Mesa County, bordered to the west by the city of Grand Junction and to the northwest by unincorporated Fruitvale. The Colorado River forms the southern edge of the community. U.S. Route 6 passes through the center of Clifton, leading west 6 miles (10 km) to the center of Grand Junction and east the same distance to Palisade. Interstate 70 passes along the northern edge of Clifton, with access from Exit 37 (I-70 Business). Colorado State Highway 141 leads south from US 6, 5 miles (8 km) to U.S. Route 50. The Clifton CDP has an area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2), or 1.20%, are water. [3]

Education

Clifton is within Mesa County Valley School District 51. The community is home to Clifton Elementary School, Rocky Mountain Elementary School and Mount Garfield Middle School. The students of Clifton are primarily served by Central High School.

Colorado Mesa University Tech operates a community campus in Clifton, offering technical certificates and non-credit courses open to the public.

Demographics

Clifton CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
1970 5,223—    
1980 6,597+26.3%
1990 12,671+92.1%
2000 12,238−3.4%
2010 19,889+62.5%
2020 20,413+2.6%
Source: United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Clifton CDP for the 1980 United States census.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Clifton, Colorado". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "P1. Race – Clifton CDP, Colorado: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  5. 1 2 "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Clifton is considered a suburb of Grand Junction" . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; Willard, John H. (1990). Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989. Golden, Colorado: Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation. ISBN   0-918654-42-4.
  8. ↑ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 14.
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