The first settlement at the site of Colorado City was called Greenhorn after the name of an 18th century Comanche chief (Cuerno Verde in Spanish). In 1845, mountain manJohn Brown, his wife Luisa Sandoval, and several children established a trading post where the Trapper's Trail to Taos, New Mexico crossed Greenhorn Creek. Brown and his family left Greenhorn for California in 1849. In 1853, Lt. Edward Griffin Beckwith, an army officer, said of Greenhorn, "six New Mexican families had built an irrigation system to divert the water from Greenhorn Creek to water their crops of corn, wheat, beans and watermelon. Their homes were built of adobe which stood shoulder to shoulder and were surrounded by a close fence of high pickets. They also had corrals for the safe keeping of their stock."[6]
The Greenhorn, Colorado Territory, post office operated from December 10, 1866, until December 15, 1911.[7] The Colorado City, Colorado, post office opened on September 1, 1964.[7]
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,018 people, 760 households, and 582 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 58.5 inhabitants per square mile (22.6/km2). There were 845 housing units at an average density of 24.5 per square mile (9.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.57% White, 0.99% African American, 1.88% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.38% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.17% of the population.
There were 760 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,331, and the median income for a family was $44,758. Males had a median income of $32,396 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,247. About 5.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Colorado City is a metropolitan district, a type of special district established under Colorado law. It is governed by an elected, five-member board of directors[9] and managed by an appointed district manager.
The metropolitan district operates Lake Beckwith, which provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The lake also forms the Lake Beckwith State Wildlife Area, one of several hundred state wildlife areas in Colorado managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.[10][11] Colorado City also has a public golf course and club house.[12]
Infrastructure
Transportation
Colorado City is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Trinidad-Pueblo Outrider line.[13]
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