Lamar, Colorado

City of Lamar, Colorado
—  City  —
Main Street facing north in downtown Lamar, CO
Location in Prowers County and the State of Colorado
Coordinates:
Country  United States
State  State of Colorado
County Prowers County Seat[1]
Incorporated December 5, 1886[2]
Government
 • Type Home Rule Municipality[1]
 • Mayor Roger Stagner[3]
Area
 • Total 4.2 sq mi (11 km2)
 • Land 4.2 sq mi (11 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation[4] 3,625 ft (1,105 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 8,869
 • Density 2,111.7/sq mi (806.3/km2)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code[5] 81052
Area code(s) 719
FIPS code 08-43110
GNIS feature ID 0203835
Website City of Lamar

The City of Lamar is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Prowers County, Colorado, United States.[6] The city population was 8,869 at the U.S. Census 2000.

History

The northern site of the Pierre Auger Observatory of ultra-high energy cosmic rays is planned to be built near Lamar.[7]

Geography

Lamar is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2), all of it land. Lamar is east of Pueblo, on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1990 8,343
2000 8,869 6.3%
2010 7,804 −12.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 8,869 people, 3,324 households, and 2,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,095.8 people per square mile (809.5/km²). There were 3,656 housing units at an average density of 863.9/sq mi (333.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.24% White, 0.38% African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 18.81% from other races, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.54% of the population.

There were 3,324 households out of which 36.0% had children living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,660, and the median income for a family was $32,560. Males had a median income of $24,145 versus $20,133 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,900. About 14.4% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Lamar is part of School District RE-2.[9]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Rail

Lamar receives intercity passenger rail service via Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles, stopping twice each day, once in each direction. See Lamar (Amtrak station).

Highways

Gallery

Notable people

See also

References

Further reading

External links