Manassa, Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Manassa is a town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. With a population of 1,042 at the 2000 census, Manassa is the largest community in Conejos County. As of the 2000 census, the population of Conejos County was 8,400.
This small town, surrounded by farms and ranches, is exactly one square mile in size, with a small amount of residential development on its outskirts. A mostly agricultural community, there are few business establishments in the town. A small-town feel abounds with no traffic control signals or stop lights.
[edit] Geography, Elevation, and Location
Just directly north of the New Mexico state border, Manassa is located in the San Luis Valley in just about the southernmost central part of the State of Colorado at ( Latitude 37.174695 North, Longitude 105.936359 West)GR1.
This legendary area is not far from the headwaters of the Rio Grande, a short distance from the Continental Divide and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and is surrounded by the world famous Rocky Mountains.
Manassa's elevation is 7,683 feet above sea level, however, the land within Manassa city limits is entirely flat, with rolling hills nearby. Foothills and mountains (taller than 14,000 feet) are farther in each direction, including the Sangre de Cristo mountain range to the east and the San Juan mountain range to the west.
[edit] Manassa's Wide Streets
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²), all land.
Manassa's wide streets, such as those typically found elsewhere in towns started by Mormons, are fashioned in a grid system. The town fits perfectly in a township and is comprised of one square mile made up of eight blocks by eight blocks for a total of 64 city blocks.
From east to west, the streets are numbered: First through Ninth
From south to north, the streets are named: South, Jack, Morgan, Smith, Main (aka Colo. Hwy. 142), Berthelson, Peterson, Dotson, and North.
[edit] Manassa's Main Street
Manassa's mile-long Main Street is also known as Colorado Highway 142, connecting Romeo (3 miles to the west) with the historic town of San Luis (Costilla County) to the east. The San Luis Hills are east of Manassa, on Colorado Highway 142, between Manassa and the town of San Luis.
San Luis is Colorado’s oldest town, founded by Mexican settlers in 1851.
[edit] Nearby Towns
Manassa's relative location to some major American cities in the western United States is shown on the map below.
Travel connections to major cities are generally made at Colorado Springs, Denver, or Albuquerque.
With daily flights to Denver, the nearest commercial airport is in Alamosa 24 miles to the north. With a population of about 8,500, Alamosa is the home of Adams State College and the main trading center for the San Luis Valley.
The San Luis Valley, made up of six counties, is the largest intermountain valley in the world and features a dry climate with long cold winters and short cool summers.
Towns in the immediate area include: Romeo, Antonito, Guadalupe (the oldest church in Colorado), La Jara, Sanford, and San Luis (the oldest town in Colorado)
[edit] Manassa's Early History
Article About The Founding And History of Manassa by the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network (c)
Today, approximately half of Manassa's residents are Hispanics, many of whom are the descendants of early New Mexican settlers of colonial Spanish origin. Most of the other citizens of Manassa are the descendants of the Mormon pioneers who founded Manassa in 1879, and named the town after a son of the Israelite, Joseph.
Manassa was located a short distance from two ranches purchased by the Mormons from Hispanos on the south side of the Conejos River, across from Los Cerritos.
The selection of the land for the colony was made on the assurance that the railroad would soon be built nearby. However, one year later the railroad bypassed the colony, and instead passed through Romeo, Colorado, just three miles to the west.
[edit] Schools And Churches
Manassa students attend public schools in the North Conejos RE-1J School District. There is an elementary school in Manassa, however, older students attend the district's middle school (Centauri Middle School) and high school (Centauri High School) about 10 miles north and west of Manassa, just south of the town of La Jara. The high school mascot is "Falcons" and the school colors are "Red" and "White".
There are two churches in Manassa. They are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and St. Theresa of the Baby Jesus Roman Catholic Church.
The oldest church in Colorado is located in nearby Guadalupe, Colorado, about ten miles southwest of Manassa and near the town of Antonito.
[edit] Community Services
The U.S. Post Office zip code for Manassa is 81141.
The telephone company's area code is (719).
[edit] Manassa Pioneer Days
The community-at-large, and people from all over the San Luis Valley and beyond, still celebrates Manassa Pioneer Days with a parade on two days, horse races, rodeo, demolition derby, fireworks, entertainment, barbecues, 5K run and renewing of friendships while remembering the past.
A carnival at Pioneer Days brings the Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars, a merry-go-round and other midway rides. Bandstand entertainment and vendor booths line Manassa’s city park on Main Street.
One of the oldest festivals in the state, the 127th annual celebration was held in 2006 and is an annual event. The weekend-long affair is held on the weekend closest to July 24, in honor of the arrival of Brigham Young and fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.
The Mormon Pioneers, as they were commonly known, left their settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, and journeyed West seeking refuge from religious persecution.
Each year, attendance at Manassa's Pioneer Days is estimated at close to 10,000 per day, with people coming from many parts of the country to visit family and friends and to enjoy the festivities.
[edit] Pictures And Additional Information Concerning Manassa And The Nearby Area
Comprehensive Collection of video and quite a few photographs of Manassa and the surrounding area, as well as a collection of stories and articles from the San Luis Valley Dweller. A MUST SEE section!
Various Pictures of Sites Around Manassa and tons of other information such as climate, population, income, et cetera. A great site!!!!
Beautiful pictures of the San Luis Valley, including one of the San Luis hills east of Manassa
Photographs These are photographs of sites, not in Manassa, but within Conejos County, such as the new courthouse in the town of Conejos and the oldest church in the State of Colorado, located in Guadalupe
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,042 people, 362 households, and 280 families residing in the town. The population density was 428.0/km² (1,110.9/mi²). There were 398 housing units at an average density of 163.5/km² (424.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.00% White, 0.48% African American, 1.63% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 13.24% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.75% of the population.
There were 362 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,092, and the median income for a family was $26,827. Males had a median income of $23,295 versus $16,029 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,576. About 23.2% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable People From Manassa
WILLIAM HARRISON "JACK" DEMPSEY ---- "The Manassa Mauler"
Manassa's biggest name is world-famous boxer, Jack Dempsey. Visit this link to see pictures of the Jack Dempsey Museum located on the town's main street.
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), was one of the greatest heavyweight champions in history. Twenty-six of his opponents were knocked unconscious during round one. Professional boxing: 83 Fights 62 Wins 50 KOs 6 Losses 9 Draws 6 No contests. Jack Dempsey is buried in the Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, New York.
OTHER WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE FROM MANASSA
Ken Salazar Wikipedia Page U. S. Senator, Democrat, first elected 2004 for a six-year term. Former Attorney General for the State of Colorado.
John Salazar Wikipedia Page U. S. Representative, Democrat, Third Congressional District, first elected in 2004 (Members of Congress run for reelection every two years). Former State Representative. Colorado's 3rd congressional district covers a large part of the state.
Ken Salazar and John Salazar are brothers and are the sons of Henry Salazar (deceased) and Emma Salazar of Manassa.
[edit] Manassa's Turquoise Mine
Manassa (King's Mine)
Manassa turquoise is mined east of Manassa, in south central Colorado. It is known for its blue-green to green color with a golden or brown, non-webbed matrix. The Manassa mine is still in production, and owned by the King family, thus the alternate name sometimes used for this turquoise. This stone is a favorite of many; the beautiful green color is VERY striking, excellent when used in gold.
This site, originally mined by Ancestral Pueblo peoples, was rediscovered in 1890 by gold prospector I.P. King, and his descendants still work the claim. King’s Manassa turquoise is best known for its brilliant greens and golden matrices, but blue and blue-green turquoise was found amid these deposits as well.
Manassa Turquoise Manassa Turquoise Website With Picture
Turquoise Wikipedia page
[edit] Jewelry Manufacturing In Manassa And Nearby
The Manassa area has long been known for its beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry and also for the production of fine pewter items.
While some turquoise has been mined in the low hills east of Manassa, most of the jewelry industry in Manassa, and nearby, has utilized and polished the raw turquoise found in the copper and silver mines of Arizona and Nevada. Additionally, coral from the seas and other semiprecious cabachons and cut stones have been added to silver and gold jewelry.
[edit] Manassa In The News
The Valley Courier Newspaper in Alamosa, Colorado, and the SLV Dweller, "a website dedicated to all things San Luis Valley," are two media outlets covering events in and near Manassa.
[edit] Political Representation
County name: Conejos (Spanish for "rabbits")
County seat: Conejos
Colorado State House District 32 (Valentin "Val" J. Vigil, D-Antonito)
Colorado State Senate District 5 (Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village)
U. S. Representative District 3 (John Salazar, D-Colorado)
United States Senators: Wayne Allard, (R-Colorado) and Ken Salazar (D-Colorado)
[edit] Manassa's Town Offices
Manassa Police Department
401 Main St
Manassa, CO 81141
Town Hall/Non-Emergency
(719) 843-5207
[edit] Family Names Represented in Manassa
While this is by no means a complete listing of family names represented in the Manassa area, they are among some of the more widely known.
Anderson, Valdez, Brady, Jaramillo, Claunch, Gomez, Coleman, Duran, Jack, King, Schofield, Sowards, Garcia, Mortensen, Gurule, Hawkins, Mondragon, Bagwell, Salazar, Jarvies, Trujillo, Broyles, Romero, Gilleland, Pacheco, Scheibe, Martinez, Vance, Dunn, Gallegos, Campbell, McGinnis, Gonzales, Trent, Smith
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
