| City of Idaho Springs, Colorado | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Idaho Springs as seen from the surrounding mountains. | |
| Location in Clear Creek County and the State of Colorado | |
| Coordinates: | |
| 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 City of Idaho Springs is a municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado that is the most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some thirty miles west of Denver. Local legend is that the name of the city derived from annual visits to the radium hot springs made by an "Indian" (Native American) chief and his tribe who journeyed there each year from Idaho to bathe in the magic healing waters.
Founded in 1859 by prospectors during the early days of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, the town was at the center of the region's mining district throughout the late nineteenth century. The Argo Tunnel drained and provided access to many lodes of ore between Idaho Springs and Central City. During the late twentieth century, the town evolved into a tourist center along U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 40, which ascend Clear Creek Canyon through the historic 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.
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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.[6] The location was originally known as "Jackson's Diggings." Once the location became a permanent settlement, it was variously called "Sacramento City," "Idahoe," "Idaho City," and finally "Idaho Springs."[7]
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 1903 erupted into violence. This was a local struggle in a much broader fight called the Colorado Labor Wars.
The 1969 film Downhill Racer, portrayed an alpine ski racer from Idaho Springs, played by Robert Redford; a brief scene was shot on location in Idaho Springs. Several scenes from the comedy film The Overbrook Brothers were filmed here in the spring of 2008.
Idaho Springs is located at (39.742456, -105.514391)[8], along Clear Creek near the confluence of its tributary, Chicago Creek.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all of it land.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 229 |
|
|
| 1880 | 733 | 220.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,338 | 82.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,502 | 87.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,154 | −13.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,192 | −44.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,207 | 1.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,112 | 75.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,769 | −16.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,480 | −16.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,033 | 37.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,077 | 2.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,834 | −11.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,889 | 3.0% | |
| Est. 2007 | 1,755 | −7.1% | |
| source:[9][10] | |||
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 1,889 people, 841 households, and 485 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,820.1 inhabitants per square mile (702.7 /km2). There were 904 housing units at an average density of 871.0 per square mile (336.3 /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.
Jennifer Whalen is a professional mountain bike racer who has resided in Idaho Springs since 2002.
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