Pierce, Colorado

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pierce is a town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 884 at the 2000 census. The town is a rural agricultural community located on the Colorado Eastern Plains along U.S. Highway 85 north of Greeley. It was founded in 1869 and incorporated in 1918. It was named in honor of John Pierce, then president of the Union Pacific Railroad, in anticipation of the construction of an extension of the Union Pacific line southward into Colorado. The following year in 1870 it became a watering stop for steam locomotives on the newly built Denver Pacific Railroad . A box car was used as the first town post office, depot, and telegraph office. A depot was constructed in 1905 and demolished in 1963. As a railroad stop, it became a local shipping point for cattle, sheep, potatoes, beans, and sugar beets. The town underwent a decline in population (from 1,000 in 1976) and its economic base during the latter 20th century with the construction of highways that allowed more direct shipping of agricultural products. The town today consists of a small grid of gravel streets, with one paved thoroughfare (Main Street) west of U.S. Highway 85. The principal businesses in town include a grain elevator, as well as a grocery store, tavern, and other businesses along Main Street. The town also has a school, a volunteer fire station, a church, and a town park.

[edit] Geography

Pierce is located at 40°38′6″N, 104°45′16″W (40.635134, -104.754574)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	327		–
1930	281		-14.1%
1940	343		22.1%
1950	372		8.5%
1960	424		14.0%
1970	452		6.6%
1980	878		94.2%
1990	823		-6.3%
2000	884		7.4%

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 884 people, 312 households, and 249 families residing in the town. The population density was 461.2/km² (1,198.7/mi²). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 165.9/km² (431.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.99% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 9.73% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.48% of the population.

There were 312 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $44,265. Males had a median income of $33,611 versus $22,174 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,412. About 4.6% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 40.635134° -104.754574°
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  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA