Idaho Springs, Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Idaho Springs, Colorado | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  State of Colorado |
| County | Clear Creek County[1] |
| Founded | 1859 |
| Incorporated | 1885-11-15[2] |
| Government | |
| - Type | Statutory City[1] |
| - Mayor | Dennis Lunbery[3] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1 sq mi (2.7 km²) |
| - Land | 1 sq mi (2.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation [4] | 7,526 ft (2,294 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 1,889 |
| - Density | 1,889/sq mi (699.6/km²) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code[5] | 80452 |
| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-38370 |
| GNIS feature ID | 204710 |
| Website: City of Idaho Springs | |
The historic City of Idaho Springs is a Statutory City that is the most populous city in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 1,889 at the U.S. Census 2000. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden about 30 miles west of Denver.
Founded in 1859 by prospectors during the early days of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, the town became a center of the regional mining district throughout the late 19th century. As you pass through Idaho Springs the entrance of the Argo tunnel is visible across the canyon. This long tunnel drained and gave access to many lodes between Idaho Springs and Central City. In the late 20th century the town evolved in a tourist center along U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 40, which ascend Clear Creek Canyon through the historical mining district.
The town today is squeezed along the north side of Interstate 70, with a historical downtown on its western end and a strip of tourist-related businesses on its eastern end. It also serves as a bedroom community for workers at the Loveland Ski Area farther up the canyon. The town today is the largest community in Clear Creek County, but for historical reasons the county seat has remained at Georgetown.
Beau Jo's, a well-known pizza restaurant in Colorado was founded in Idaho Springs in 1973 and still maintains its original location, though the company headquarters is now in Lakewood, Colorado
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[edit] History
On January 5, 1859, during the Colorado gold rush, prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado. Jackson, a Missouri native with experience in the California gold fields, was drawn to the area by clouds of steam rising from some nearby hot springs. Jackson kept his find secret for several months, but after he paid for some supplies with gold dust, others rushed to Jackson's diggings. The settlement was first called Spanish Bar, later renamed Idaho Springs, after the hot springs.[6]
The first placer discoveries were soon followed by discoveries of gold veins in the rocks of the canyon walls on both sides of Clear Creek. Hard rock mining became the mainstay of the town long after the gold-bearing gravels were exhausted.
A strike by Idaho Springs miners demanding the eight-hour day in May of 1903 erupted into violence, and was one local struggle in a much broader fight called the Colorado Labor Wars.
[edit] Geography
Idaho Springs is located at (39.742456, -105.514391)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,889 people, 841 households, and 485 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,820.1 people per square mile (701.3/km²). There were 904 housing units at an average density of 871.0/sq mi (335.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.71% White, 0.74% Black or African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 1.54% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 5.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 841 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $48,790. Males had a median income of $35,446 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,789. About 2.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Famous residents
Jennifer Whalen is a professional mountain bike racer who won the 2005 NORBA National Championship in the Super D category. She has been a resident of Idaho Springs since 2002.
[edit] Points of Interest
- Argo Tunnel, Gold Mill, and Museum - The mill and museum are open for tours.[1]
- Statue of cartoon character Steve Canyon [2]
- Phoenix Gold mine - offers underground tours[3]
- Edgar Experimental mine - Owned and Operated by the Colorado School of Mines to train mining engineering students. The mine is open for tours.[4]
- Indian Hot Springs[5]
[edit] See also
- State of Colorado
- United States Forest Service
[edit] References
- ^ a b Active Colorado Municipalities (HTML). State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ Colorado Municipal Incorporations (HTML). State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives (2004-12-01). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ City Council - City of Idaho Springs (HTML). City of Idaho Springs. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ ZIP Code Lookup (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved on October 12, 2007.
- ^ Robert L. Brown (1985) The Great Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Caldwell, Ida.: Caxton, p.26-32.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Idaho Springs, Colorado is at coordinates Coordinates:
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