Estes Park, Colorado: Difference between revisions
Elevation in table incorrectly showed English units as 10000 ft. Correct value (as reported in text) is 7,522 ft. Metric value (2293 m) is correct. |
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The median income for a household in the town was $43,262, and the median income for a family was $55,667. Males had a median income of $31,573 versus $20,767 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $30,499. About 3.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over. |
The median income for a household in the town was $43,262, and the median income for a family was $55,667. Males had a median income of $31,573 versus $20,767 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $30,499. About 3.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over. |
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Three million tourists visit [[Rocky Mountain National Park]]; most use Estes Park as their base><ref>Associated Press, "Rocky Mountain National Park sees more visitors" [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_16709839?source=rss Nov 25, 2010 ''Denver Post]</ref> |
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[[File:Rocky-mt-WPA.jpg|thumb|350px|1936 WPA poster inviting tourists to Rocky Mountain National Park]] |
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==Historic ski areas== |
==Historic ski areas== |
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Estes Park was home to a number of now defunct ski areas:<ref name=SkiHist>{{cite web|author=TCSP |url=http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/lost/index_nfr.html |title=''Northern Front Range Resorts'' |publisher=Colorado Ski History |date= |accessdate=2009-12-23}}</ref> |
Estes Park was home to a number of now defunct ski areas:<ref name=SkiHist>{{cite web|author=TCSP |url=http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/lost/index_nfr.html |title=''Northern Front Range Resorts'' |publisher=Colorado Ski History |date= |accessdate=2009-12-23}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 01:18, 16 December 2010
Town of Estes Park | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Panorama of Estes Park as seen from Lumpy Ridge | |
 Location of Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County[1] | Larimer |
| Founded | 1859 |
| Incorporated (town) | April 17, 1917[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town[1] |
| • Mayor | Bill Pinkham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.9 sq mi (15.2 km2) |
| • Land | 5.8 sq mi (15.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2) 0.85% |
| Elevation | 7,522 ft (2,293 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 5,413 |
| • Density | 929.5/sq mi (359.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Codes[3] | 80517 |
| Area code | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-25115 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0204674 |
| Website | Town of Estes Park |
Estes Park is a town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park had a population of 5,413 at the 2000 census, and an estimated population of 6,006 in 2006.[4] The town is named after Missouri native Joel Estes, who founded the community in 1859.
The town's outskirts include The Stanley Hotel. Once a fine example of Edwardian opulence, the 1909 building had Stephen King as a guest, inspiring him to change the locale for his novel The Shining from an amusement park to the Stanley's fictional stand-in, the Overlook Hotel. Estes Park was also the site of the organization of the Credit Union National Association, an important milestone in the history of American credit unions.[5] Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous highway in the United States, runs from Estes Park westward through Rocky Mountain National Park, reaching Grand Lake over the continental divide.[6] The town suffered severe damage in July 1982 from flooding caused by the failure of Lawn Lake Dam.[7]
Geography
Estes Park sits at an elevation of 7,522 feet on the front range of the Rocky Mountains at the eastern entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Its location is 40°22′22″N 105°31′09″W / 40.372856°N 105.519136°W.Template:GR Its north, south and east extremities border the Roosevelt National Forest. Lumpy Ridge lies immediately north of Estes Park.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.2 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (15.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,413 people, 2,541 households, and 1,565 families residing in the town. The population density was 929.5 people per square mile (359.1/km²). There were 3,323 housing units at an average density of 570.6/sq mi (220.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.14% White, 0.31% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.07% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.56% of the population.
There were 2,541 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,262, and the median income for a family was $55,667. Males had a median income of $31,573 versus $20,767 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,499. About 3.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.
Three million tourists visit Rocky Mountain National Park; most use Estes Park as their base>[8]
Historic ski areas
Estes Park was home to a number of now defunct ski areas:[9]
- Davis Hill[10]
- Hidden Valley[11]
- Leydman Hill Jump[12]
- Old Man Mountain[13]
Estes Park vicinity was also the home of other resorts and tourist attractions.[9]
Flood of 1982
The town flooded in 1982 and suffered extensive damage due to the failure, "after years of disrepair and neglect", of an earthen dam several miles upstream.[7]
Transportation
The main airport serving Estes Park is Denver International Airport, located 75 miles southeast.
Highways
US 34 is an east-west highway that runs from Granby, Colorado to Berwyn, Illinois. In Colorado, it connects Estes Park to Loveland, Interstate 25, Greeley and Interstate 76.
US 36 begins at the nearby Rocky Mountains National Park, running to Uhrichsville, Ohio, passing through Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It connects Estes park to Boulder, and Interstates 25 and 76, both near Denver.
State Highway 7 begins at the junction of US 36 and N St. Vrain Avenue in Estes Park and runs to Boulder, Lafayette and Brighton. Its northwestern segment is part of the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway.
Sister city
Estes Park's official sister city is 
Monteverde, Costa Rica.
See also
- Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Front Range Urban Corridor
- Colorado municipalities
References
- ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
- ^ "American FactFinder" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
- ^ Creating CUNA)
- ^ "Rocky Mountain National Park - Park Area: Trail Ridge Road". Rmnp.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ a b Ann Depperschmidt (2009-07-12). "Path of destruction:Flood of 1982 still evident in hike to Lawn Lake". Reporter Herald.
- ^ Associated Press, "Rocky Mountain National Park sees more visitors" Nov 25, 2010 Denver Post
- ^ a b TCSP. "''Northern Front Range Resorts''". Colorado Ski History. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ TCSP. "''Davis Hill''". Colorado Ski History. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ Colorado Ski History: Hidden Valley (Ski Estes Park)
- ^ TCSP. "''Leydman Hill Jump''". Colorado Ski History. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ TCSP. "''Old Man Mountain''". Colorado Ski History. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
External links
- Official website
- Estes Park, Colorado eWelcome Center
- Estes Park Public Library Local History FAQ
- CDOT map of Estes Park
- Estes Park Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Rocky Mountain Gateway, Colorado - Estes Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park, Colorado
- Park School District R-3
Municipalities and communities of Larimer County, Colorado, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |