| Town of Estes Park | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Panorama of Estes Park as seen from Rocky Mountains | |
| Location of Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado | |
| Coordinates: | |
| 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 (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,858 |
| • Density | 929.5/sq mi (359.1/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP Codes[3] | 80517 |
| Area code(s) | 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 5,858 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Missouri native Joel Estes, who founded the community in 1859.
The town's outskirts include The Stanley Hotel. An 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.[4] 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.[5] The town suffered severe damage in July 1982 from flooding caused by the failure of Lawn Lake Dam.[6]
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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 .[7] 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 km2), of which 5.8 square miles (15 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.85%) is water.
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 5,858 people, 2,796 households, and 1,565 families residing in the town. The population density was 929.5 people per square mile (359.1/km²). There were 4,107 housing units at an average density of 570.6 per square mile (220.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.0% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14% 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 each year; most use Estes Park as their base.[9]
Estes Park was home to a number of now defunct ski areas:[10]
Estes Park vicinity was also the home of other resorts and tourist attractions.[10]
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.[6]
The main airport serving Estes Park is Denver International Airport, located 75 miles southeast.
Estes Park's official sister city is Monteverde, Costa Rica.
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