Divide, Colorado

Divide, Colorado
Census-designated place (CDP)

Divide from Ute Pass
Motto: Center of the Known Universe
Divide, Colorado

Location within the state of Colorado

Coordinates: 38°56′31″N 105°09′28″W / 38.94194°N 105.15778°WCoordinates: 38°56′31″N 105°09′28″W / 38.94194°N 105.15778°W
Country  United States
State  State of Colorado
County Teller County[1]
Government
 • Type unincorporated community
Elevation 9,165 ft (2,793 m)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code[2] 80814
Area code(s) 719

Divide is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Teller County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 127.[3] Divide sits on the north slope of Pikes Peak on U.S. Highway 24. Ute Pass is immediately west of town. The Divide Post Office has the ZIP Code 80814.[2]

There are multiple gas stations near the highway for travelers, a small grocery store, post office, Summit Elementary, and multiple churches. Divide is also the home of the Teller County Sheriff's office off of Hwy 24. Teller County has a jail behind the Sheriff's office as well, infamous for holding the 'Texas Seven' back in early 2000.

Divide is a growing, planned community. Divide is planned in three areas: the town center, rural residential land parcels, and larger rural land parcels.

History

Divide, Colorado sits nestled on the north slope of “America’s Mountain”, Pikes Peak. The same regional splendor that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful” has drawn people to Divide to make it their home. Divide was originally called Hayden's Divide after geologist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, the original surveyor of the area; settlers in the 1880s shortened the name to Divide. Divide was so named because water run-offs divide to the north, south, east and west of its location. There are multiple historical buildings that have been run-down and abandoned in the past, but are now beginning to be reconstructed to their original likeness. Over the past 100+ years of settlement in the region, Divide has seen a range of activities from ranching and farming (iceberg lettuce and potatoes being the most notable crops), to tourism (Mueller State Park, Pike National Forest). The Midland Depot in Divide played a significant role during the heyday of train travel in Colorado. Significant not only for its location between the thriving gold camps of Cripple Creek and Victor and Colorado Springs, but significant as well for the tourist industry that, with the advent of railroads, was able to thrive in the region as well. The proximity of the train station to Coulson Lake also allowed the farming industry to boom. Ice was cut from the lake and lettuce was packed for export, made less perishable with the cold storage opportunity. Divide is the gateway to many of Colorado’s outstanding State and National Parks. Annual visitors are awed by the proximity to wild beauty and pristine vistas. Divide is also a thriving community of local residents and businesses. Divide is home to about 4,000 year-round residents. The area is protected from uncontrolled development by a regional growth plan that protects view corridors and the types of development that are appropriate for a rural community. Located at the central crossroads of Teller County, Divide is affectionately called “The center of the known universe”.

Geography

Divide is located at 38°56′31″N 105°09′28″W / 38.94194°N 105.15778°W (38.942054,-105.157871), at the western intersection of U.S. Highway 24 and State Highway 67 (The highways overlap east to Woodland Park).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ZIP Code Lookup" (JAVASCRIPT/HTML). United States Postal Service. December 22, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  3. ↑ Colorado Trend Report 2: State and Complete Places (Sub-state 2010 Census Data). Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed 2011-02-25.

External links