Lamar, Colorado

Lamar, Colorado
Home rule municipality [1]
Main Street facing north in downtown Lamar (2007)
Location with Prowers County and Colorado
Coordinates: 38°05′14″N102°37′15″W / 38.08722°N 102.62083°W / 38.08722; -102.62083 [2]
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Prowers County [3]
Incorporated	December 5, 1886 [4]
Government
• Type	Home Rule Municipality [1]
•  Mayor	Kirk Crespin [5]
Area [6]
• Total	5.29 sq mi (13.70 km2)
• Land	5.27 sq mi (13.65 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation [2]	3,619 ft (1,103 m)
Population  (2020) [7]
• Total	7,687
• Density	1,500/sq mi (560/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP Code [8]	81052
Area code	719
FIPS code	08-43110 [2]
GNIS ID	203835 [2]
Website	City Website

Lamar is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Prowers County, Colorado. ^[2] The city population was 7,687 at the 2020 United States Census. ^[7] The city was named after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, a Confederate soldier and diplomat who wrote the Mississippi Secession Ordinance, and after the Civil War, went on to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Supreme Court Justice. ^[9] Lamar is the home of Lamar Community College, and is the largest city in southeastern Colorado.

History

Lamar was founded on May 24, 1886, by Issac Holmes. ^[10] It was named after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the author of the Mississippi Ordinance of Secession, and a Confederate officer and diplomat. The first town elections were held in December, and C. M. Morrison became the town's first mayor. In 1889, Prowers County was established, and Lamar was elected to house the county's government. Throughout its history, Lamar has suffered from fires and floods. The town was also greatly affected by the Dust Bowl, and as such, participated in projects led by the Civil Works Administration, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and the Works Progress Administration.

The northern site of the Pierre Auger Observatory of ultra-high energy cosmic rays is planned to be built near Lamar. ^[11]

Restored railroad depot and Lamar visitor center

Geography and climate

The city lies in southeastern Colorado in northwestern Prowers County on the south side of the Arkansas River floodplain. Las Animas is about twenty miles to the west. ^[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km²), all land.

Transportation

Lamar receives intercity passenger rail service at the Lamar Amtrak Station via Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles. An intercity bus service is also provided by Bustang. Lamar is the last eastbound stop of the Lamar-Pueblo-Colorado Springs Outrider line.

Highways

• US 50 is an east–west highway running from California to Maryland. It is also the main route to Pueblo and Las Animas.
• Prowers County Road 196 (the state has abandoned the highway) is an 11.4-mile (18.3 km) stretch that connects around Lamar to Wiley.
• US 287/385 are two concurrent highways that run south through Lamar. They connect Lamar to Springfield. US 287 runs from Texas State Highway 87 in Port Arthur, Texas, to US 89 at Choteau, Montana. US 385 runs from Big Bend National Park in Texas to US 85 in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Lamar is located in a cold semi-arid climate (Bsk)

Climate data for Lamar, Colorado (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	82 (28)	86 (30)	94 (34)	98 (37)	103 (39)	111 (44)	111 (44)	110 (43)	106 (41)	99 (37)	89 (32)	82 (28)	111 (44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	66.3 (19.1)	72.3 (22.4)	82.9 (28.3)	88.9 (31.6)	95.7 (35.4)	102.7 (39.3)	103.7 (39.8)	101.6 (38.7)	98.3 (36.8)	90.3 (32.4)	78.6 (25.9)	66.5 (19.2)	105.2 (40.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	45.1 (7.3)	49.2 (9.6)	60.2 (15.7)	68.4 (20.2)	77.7 (25.4)	88.7 (31.5)	93.3 (34.1)	90.6 (32.6)	83.5 (28.6)	69.9 (21.1)	56.4 (13.6)	45.5 (7.5)	69.0 (20.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)	29.4 (−1.4)	33.1 (0.6)	43.3 (6.3)	52.2 (11.2)	62.2 (16.8)	73.1 (22.8)	78.1 (25.6)	75.7 (24.3)	67.5 (19.7)	53.0 (11.7)	39.9 (4.4)	30.0 (−1.1)	53.1 (11.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	13.7 (−10.2)	17.0 (−8.3)	26.3 (−3.2)	36.1 (2.3)	46.8 (8.2)	57.5 (14.2)	62.9 (17.2)	60.9 (16.1)	51.5 (10.8)	36.0 (2.2)	23.3 (−4.8)	14.4 (−9.8)	37.2 (2.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−1.5 (−18.6)	2.1 (−16.6)	10.3 (−12.1)	21.4 (−5.9)	32.7 (0.4)	45.3 (7.4)	54.5 (12.5)	53.0 (11.7)	37.8 (3.2)	21.1 (−6.1)	8.7 (−12.9)	−1.9 (−18.8)	−7.2 (−21.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−29 (−34)	−30 (−34)	−23 (−31)	8 (−13)	20 (−7)	33 (1)	43 (6)	40 (4)	23 (−5)	1 (−17)	−12 (−24)	−23 (−31)	−30 (−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.33 (8.4)	0.42 (11)	0.72 (18)	1.46 (37)	1.93 (49)	2.53 (64)	2.81 (71)	2.78 (71)	1.19 (30)	1.08 (27)	0.48 (12)	0.46 (12)	16.19 (411)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	6.3 (16)	5.4 (14)	4.7 (12)	1.7 (4.3)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	2.1 (5.3)	3.6 (9.1)	5.9 (15)	29.8 (76)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	2.7	3.0	4.2	5.8	7.5	7.4	8.3	7.4	4.6	4.3	3.4	3.2	61.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.2	2.0	1.5	0.8	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	1.3	2.1	10.4
Source: NOAA [13] [14]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	566		—
1900	987		74.4%
1910	2,977		201.6%
1920	2,512		−15.6%
1930	4,233		68.5%
1940	4,445		5.0%
1950	6,829		53.6%
1960	7,369		7.9%
1970	7,797		5.8%
1980	7,713		−1.1%
1990	8,343		8.2%
2000	8,869		6.3%
2010	7,804		−12.0%
2020	7,687		−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census ^[15] of 2010, there were 7,804 people, 3,102 households, and 1,980 families living in the city. The population density was 1,858.1 inhabitants per square mile (717.4/km²). There were 3,666 housing units at an average density of 872.9 units per square mile (337.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.6% White, 0.7% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 16.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.7% of the population.

There were 3,102 households, of which 42.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,521, and the median income for a family was $43,588. Males working full-time and year-round had a median income of $31,621 versus $30,148 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,944. About 21.4% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lamar is part of School District RE-2, ^{[16] [17]} and it is home to Lamar Community College. ^[18]

Economy and health care

Lamar initially had an agriculture-based economy. In 1981, German bus manufacturer Neoplan opened a manufacturing plant employing 650, but it closed in 2006. ^{[19] [20]} Lamar has increasingly relied on tourism. ^[10]

Prowers Medical Center, a critical access hospital, serves Lamar and Prowers County. The hospital has an emergency department that is a level IV trauma center. ^[21]

Notable people

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

• Gordon L. Allott (1907–1989), U.S. Senator from Colorado ^[22]
• Marvin Ash (1914–1974), jazz pianist ^[23]
• Ken Curtis (1916–1991), actor, singer ^[24]
• Scott Elarton (1976- ), baseball pitcher ^[25]
• Curt Gentry (1931–2014), journalist, non-fiction author ^[26]
• Gerald Gregg (1907–1985), illustrator, book cover artist ^[27]
• Wayne R. Grisham (1923–2011), U.S. Representative from California ^[28]
• Floyd D. Hall (1916–2012), pilot, airline executive ^[29]
• Sharon Herbaugh (1954–1993), war correspondent for the Associated Press ^[30]
• Wesley Tuttle (1917–2003), singer-songwriter, guitarist ^[31]
• Sandy Vance (1947- ), baseball pitcher ^[32]

See also

• Colorado portal

• Madonna of the Trail monument
• National Old Trails Road
• Santa Fe National Historic Trail
• The Lamar Ledger

References

1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
2. "Lamar, Colorado", Geographic Names Information System , United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
3. "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
4. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
5. "2009 - 2011 City Elected Officials". City of Lamar. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
6. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
7. United States Census Bureau. "Lamar city; Colorado" . Retrieved April 20, 2023.
8. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
9. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 180.
10. "City of Lamar, Colorado Cultural Resource Survey: Architectural & Historical Survey Report" (PDF). historycolorado.com. October 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
11. "Pierre Auger Observatory - Northern Auger Site". Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
12. Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 12th ed., 2015, p. 99 ISBN   0899332889
13. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
14. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 27, 2018.
16. Lamar School District Archived August 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
17. "Lamar School District RE-2" . Retrieved January 10, 2014.
18. "About LCC" . Retrieved January 10, 2014.
19. Schmidt, William E.; Times, Special To the New York (May 25, 1981). "COLORADO TOWN LOOKS TO BETTER DAYS, WITH A GERMAN BUS FACTORY". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 25, 2023.
20. "Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming". Newspapers.com. November 30, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
21. "Prowers Medical Center". American Hospital Directory. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
22. "Allott, Gordon Llewellyn, (1907-1989)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
23. Edwards, Bill. "Marvin E. Ashbaugh". RagPiano.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
24. "Ken Curtis (I)". IMDb. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
25. "Scott Elarton". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
26. Nolte, Carl (July 19, 2014). "Curt Gentry dies: best-selling writer of Manson, Hoover books". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
27. "Summary Bibliography: Gerald Gregg". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
28. "Grisham, Wayne Richard, (1923-2011)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
29. Hevesi, Dennis (May 3, 2012). "Floyd D. Hall, Head of Eastern Airlines, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
30. "Obituary: Sharon Herbaugh". October 23, 2011.
31. "Wesley Tuttle [Obituary]". The Independent. October 15, 2003. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
32. "Sandy Vance". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.

Further reading

• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916. (Download 6.8MB PDF eBook)
• Thomas Lamar Coughlin "Those Southern Lamars" ISBN   0-7388-2410-0

External links

• City of Lamar
• Lamar City Map, CDOT
• Lamar School District RE-2