Dillon, Colorado

Dillon, Colorado
Home rule municipality [1]
Town of Dillon [1]
Dillon, Colorado
Location of the Town of Dillon in Summit County, Colorado.
Dillon Location of the Town of Dillon in the United States.
Coordinates: 39°37′42″N106°02′48″W / 39.62833°N 106.04667°W / 39.62833; -106.04667 [2]
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Summit County [1]
Incorporated	January 26, 1883 [3]
Government
• Type	Home rule municipality [1]
• Mayor	Carolyn Skowyra[ citation needed ]
Area [4]
• Total	2.324 sq mi (6.018 km2)
• Land	1.494 sq mi (3.869 km2)
• Water	0.830 sq mi (2.149 km2)
Elevation [2]	9,019 ft (2,749 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	1,064
• Density	712/sq mi (275/km2)
•  Metro	31,055
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code [5]	80435
Area code	970
FIPS code	08-20440
GNIS feature ID	2412431 [2]
Website	www.townofdillon.com

The Town of Dillon is a home rule municipality located in Summit County, Colorado, United States. ^[1] The town population was 1,064 at the 2020 United States Census, a +17.70% increase since the 2010 United States Census. ^[4] Dillon is a part of the Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The original town of Dillon was built as a stage stop and trading post on the northeast side of the Snake River. ^[6] The town was named for Tom Dillon, a prospector, ^[7] and was incorporated in 1883. ^[8] By 1892 the town had been relocated twice, both times in order to be closer to railroad lines that were extended into the area. ^[6] All three of these historic townsites were situated very close to the Blue River Valley confluence where the Snake River and Tenmile Creek flowed in, and this area is now referred to collectively as "Old Dillon".

During the Great Depression, Denver Water began acquiring land around Dillon. In 1956, residents and business owners in Dillon were notified that they would need to sell their property and move out, because Denver Water was about to begin construction on a dam just downstream from the town, and the resulting reservoir (which would help supply water to Front Range communities) was going to flood Dillon and the surrounding valley. About a mile to the north, some land on a hillside was set aside for the current townsite, which is now situated on the shoreline of Dillon Reservoir. ^[6]

Geography

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 1,487 acres (6.018 km²) including 531 acres (2.149 km²) of water. ^[4] Dillon Dam and its reservoir (Lake Dillon) are adjacent. The Continental Divide of the Americas is approximately 10 miles (16 km) east.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Dillon has an alpine subarctic climate (Dfc). Summer days are usually warm, but with nights dropping close to freezing. Winter days are cold, with massive amounts of snowfall.

Climate data for Dillon, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1910–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	61 (16)	60 (16)	63 (17)	76 (24)	80 (27)	87 (31)	89 (32)	87 (31)	84 (29)	77 (25)	65 (18)	61 (16)	89 (32)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	46.3 (7.9)	48.4 (9.1)	55.3 (12.9)	62.9 (17.2)	71.1 (21.7)	78.9 (26.1)	82.2 (27.9)	80.0 (26.7)	76.1 (24.5)	69.0 (20.6)	57.7 (14.3)	48.5 (9.2)	82.5 (28.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	31.1 (−0.5)	33.4 (0.8)	40.5 (4.7)	47.5 (8.6)	57.6 (14.2)	69.1 (20.6)	75.0 (23.9)	72.5 (22.5)	66.2 (19.0)	54.1 (12.3)	41.1 (5.1)	31.7 (−0.2)	51.7 (10.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	16.3 (−8.7)	18.5 (−7.5)	25.5 (−3.6)	32.8 (0.4)	41.8 (5.4)	50.8 (10.4)	56.6 (13.7)	54.7 (12.6)	47.9 (8.8)	37.4 (3.0)	26.2 (−3.2)	17.3 (−8.2)	35.5 (1.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	1.5 (−16.9)	3.6 (−15.8)	10.5 (−11.9)	18.1 (−7.7)	25.9 (−3.4)	32.6 (0.3)	38.1 (3.4)	36.9 (2.7)	29.7 (−1.3)	20.7 (−6.3)	11.4 (−11.4)	3.0 (−16.1)	19.3 (−7.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−15.5 (−26.4)	−14.5 (−25.8)	−7.2 (−21.8)	3.8 (−15.7)	15.2 (−9.3)	25.0 (−3.9)	31.7 (−0.2)	31.0 (−0.6)	20.4 (−6.4)	5.9 (−14.5)	−7.7 (−22.1)	−14.5 (−25.8)	−19.2 (−28.4)
Record low °F (°C)	−44 (−42)	−45 (−43)	−38 (−39)	−25 (−32)	−8 (−22)	11 (−12)	22 (−6)	20 (−7)	4 (−16)	−17 (−27)	−30 (−34)	−46 (−43)	−46 (−43)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.95 (24)	0.99 (25)	1.15 (29)	1.42 (36)	1.34 (34)	1.13 (29)	1.87 (47)	1.91 (49)	1.40 (36)	0.98 (25)	0.88 (22)	0.87 (22)	14.89 (378)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	18.0 (46)	17.0 (43)	17.5 (44)	17.3 (44)	6.4 (16)	0.7 (1.8)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.1 (2.8)	7.1 (18)	14.6 (37)	15.8 (40)	115.5 (292.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	11.7	11.3	11.3	11.3	9.6	8.3	11.9	13.5	9.9	8.1	9.5	10.9	127.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	9.7	9.6	9.4	8.8	3.0	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.5	3.7	8.0	9.1	62.2
Source 1: NOAA [9]
Source 2: National Weather Service [10]

Spring snowmelt fills Lake Dillon

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	133		—
1900	143		7.5%
1910	134		−6.3%
1920	126		−6.0%
1930	92		−27.0%
1940	161		75.0%
1950	191		18.6%
1960	814		326.2%
1970	182		−77.6%
1980	337		85.2%
1990	553		64.1%
2000	802		45.0%
2010	904		12.7%
2020	1,064		17.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 802 people, 369 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density was 523.0 inhabitants per square mile (201.9/km²). There were 1,280 housing units at an average density of 834.7 per square mile (322.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.64% White, 0.87% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 1.87% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.35% of the population.

There were 369 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.62.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 39.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,821, and the median income for a family was $59,107. Males had a median income of $36,304 versus $26,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,727. About 4.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Lake Dillon in summer

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Dillon include:

• Richard F. Bansemer, Lutheran pastor ^[12]
• Frederic J. Brown III, U.S. Army lieutenant general ^[13]
• Millie Hamner, Colorado state legislator ^[14]
• Enid Markey (1894–1981), actress ^[15]
• Julie McCluskie, member of the Colorado House of Representatives
• Duane D. Pearsall (1922–2010), smoke detector entrepreneur ^[16]
• Christine Scanlan, Colorado state legislator ^[17]

See also

• Colorado portal

• Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area
• Dillon Reservoir
• Dillon Amphitheater

References

1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dillon, Colorado
3. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
4. "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
5. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
6. "Dillon Historical Background". Town of Dillon. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
7. 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. 18.
8. "Dillon, Colorado". City-Data.com. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
9. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
10. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "Our History". Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
13. Damon, Victor (March 22, 2020). "Biography, LTG Frederic J. Brown PhD, U.S. Army (Ret.)" (PDF). 3AD.com. New Haven, CT: The 3rd Armored Division History Foundation. pp. 1–2. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
14. "Millie Hamner's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
15. "Enid Markey". IMDb. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
16. "Duane Pearsall, inventor of smoke detector, dies in Denver". Summit Daily. April 15, 2010. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
17. Fowler, Kelsey (December 15, 2013). "Keystone Center president Christine Scanlan appointed to University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 17, 2016.

External links

• Town of Dillon website
• CDOT map of the Town of Dillon
• Lake Dillon Fire Protection District