Black Hawk, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The historic City of Black Hawk is a Home Rule Municipality located in Gilpin County
, Colorado
, United States
. The city population was 118 at U.S. Census 2000, making Black Hawk the least populous city in Colorado. The tiny city is a historic mining settlement founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
Black Hawk is located adjacent to Central City
, another historic mining settlement in Gregory Gulch. The two cities form the federally designated Central City/Black Hawk National Historic District. The area flourished during the mining boom of the late 19th century following the construction of mills and a railroad link to Golden
. The town declined during the 20th century, but has been revived in recent years after the 1991 establishment of casino
gambling
following a statewide initiative in 1990. In early 2010, the Black Hawk city council passed a law banning the riding of bicycles in the town, drawing a reaction from bicycle advocacy groups and international press.
in Gregory Gulch by its namesake, John H. Gregory, brought thousands of prospectors and miners into the area, combing the hills for more gold veins. The Bobtail lode was discovered the following month. Hardrock mining boomed for a few years, but then declined in the mid-1860s as the miners exhausted the shallow parts of the veins that contained free gold, and found that their amalgamation mills could not recover gold from the deeper sulfide ores.
Nathaniel P. Hill
built Colorado's first successful ore smelter in Black Hawk in 1868. Hill's smelter could recover gold from the sulfide ores, an achievement that saved hardrock mining in Black Hawk, Central City
, and Idaho Springs
from ruin. Other smelters were built nearby. Black Hawk's advantageous location on North Clear Creek made it the center of ore processing for the area, and it became known as the City of Mills.
The Colorado Central Railroad
extended its line to the town in 1872. A restored depot and locomotive are on display on the east side of downtown. Black Hawk was also serviced by the two foot gauge Gilpin Tramway which climbed from Black Hawk to the mines above Central City. Many historic buildings in the town have been restored following the opening of the casinos in 1991.
since casino
s opened in both towns in 1991. Development of the area down Clear Creek from the historic Black Hawk townsite lining State Highway 119
has flourished. Gamblers from Denver pass the Blackhawk casinos before they arrive at Central City
, and, as a result, Black Hawk has realized much more revenue from gambling than Central City. Gambling in Black Hawk also benefits from less restrictive building codes; while Central City until recently limited building heights to 53 feet to preserve the historic character of the town, Black Hawk has no such limits, and a 33-story Ameristar Hotel & Casino has been built in Black Hawk. In an attempt to close the competitive gap, Central City
built the Central City Parkway
from I-70 near Idaho Springs
as an alternative route, leading guests first to Central City, and then to Black Hawk. The Parkway
opened November 19, 2004. However, Black Hawk continues to have three times the number of casinos, and generates more than seven times the gambling revenue that Central City does.
Although the 1990 statewide referendum allowing casino gambling in Black Hawk was promoted as a way to promote historic preservation in Black Hawk, critics have charged that it has had the opposite effect, and that the historic appearance of Black Hawk has been sacrificed to allow construction of the large casinos.http://achp.gov/casearchive/cases4-99CO.htmlhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F00EED61130F934A3575AC0A961958260http://www.westword.com/2006-04-13/news/a-house-divided/http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/list.asp?i=11
Tax from the gambling revenue provides funding for the State Historical Fund, administered by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²).
As of the census
of 2000, there were 118 people, 54 households, and 28 families residing in the city. The population density
was 80.9 people per square mile (31.2/km²). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 54.2 per square mile (20.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.75% White, 3.39% African American, 0.85% Native American, 5.93% from other races
, and 5.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.17% of the population.
There were 54 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 131.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,583, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $25,985. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.
Gilpin County, Colorado
Gilpin County is the second least extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Gilpin County was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The county population was 4,757 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Central City...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city population was 118 at U.S. Census 2000, making Black Hawk the least populous city in Colorado. The tiny city is a historic mining settlement founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
Black Hawk is located adjacent to Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
, another historic mining settlement in Gregory Gulch. The two cities form the federally designated Central City/Black Hawk National Historic District. The area flourished during the mining boom of the late 19th century following the construction of mills and a railroad link to Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
. The town declined during the 20th century, but has been revived in recent years after the 1991 establishment of casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
following a statewide initiative in 1990. In early 2010, the Black Hawk city council passed a law banning the riding of bicycles in the town, drawing a reaction from bicycle advocacy groups and international press.
Mining boom
The town is located along the north fork of Clear Creek and Gregory Gulch. In May 1859 the discovery of goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in Gregory Gulch by its namesake, John H. Gregory, brought thousands of prospectors and miners into the area, combing the hills for more gold veins. The Bobtail lode was discovered the following month. Hardrock mining boomed for a few years, but then declined in the mid-1860s as the miners exhausted the shallow parts of the veins that contained free gold, and found that their amalgamation mills could not recover gold from the deeper sulfide ores.
Nathaniel P. Hill
Nathaniel P. Hill
Nathaniel Peter Hill was a United States Senator from Colorado.-Biography:Born in Montgomery, Orange County, New York, at the Nathaniel Hill Brick House . He married Alice Hale of Providence, Rhode Island, on July 26, 1860...
built Colorado's first successful ore smelter in Black Hawk in 1868. Hill's smelter could recover gold from the sulfide ores, an achievement that saved hardrock mining in Black Hawk, Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
, and Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, Colorado
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...
from ruin. Other smelters were built nearby. Black Hawk's advantageous location on North Clear Creek made it the center of ore processing for the area, and it became known as the City of Mills.
The Colorado Central Railroad
Colorado Central Railroad
The Colorado Central Railroad was a U.S. railroad company that operated in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming in the late 19th century. Originally founded in the Colorado Territory in the wake of the Colorado Gold Rush to ship gold from the mountains, it eventually expanded from its initial...
extended its line to the town in 1872. A restored depot and locomotive are on display on the east side of downtown. Black Hawk was also serviced by the two foot gauge Gilpin Tramway which climbed from Black Hawk to the mines above Central City. Many historic buildings in the town have been restored following the opening of the casinos in 1991.
Gambling boom
The town has been in heated competition for gambling revenue with the nearby town of Central CityCentral City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
since casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s opened in both towns in 1991. Development of the area down Clear Creek from the historic Black Hawk townsite lining State Highway 119
Colorado State Highway 119
State Highway 119 is a long state highway in north central Colorado. It extends in a southwest to northeast direction, from a junction with US Route 6 in Clear Creek Canyon between Golden and Idaho Springs to a junction with I-25 east of Longmont....
has flourished. Gamblers from Denver pass the Blackhawk casinos before they arrive at Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
, and, as a result, Black Hawk has realized much more revenue from gambling than Central City. Gambling in Black Hawk also benefits from less restrictive building codes; while Central City until recently limited building heights to 53 feet to preserve the historic character of the town, Black Hawk has no such limits, and a 33-story Ameristar Hotel & Casino has been built in Black Hawk. In an attempt to close the competitive gap, Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
built the Central City Parkway
Central City Parkway
The Central City Parkway is a four-lane highway in Colorado, running from I-70 near Idaho Springs to the historic mining town and gambling area of Central City. Opened on November 19, 2004, the Parkway provides direct access to Central City. The length of the Parkway is 8.4 miles , and it can be...
from I-70 near Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, Colorado
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...
as an alternative route, leading guests first to Central City, and then to Black Hawk. The Parkway
Central City Parkway
The Central City Parkway is a four-lane highway in Colorado, running from I-70 near Idaho Springs to the historic mining town and gambling area of Central City. Opened on November 19, 2004, the Parkway provides direct access to Central City. The length of the Parkway is 8.4 miles , and it can be...
opened November 19, 2004. However, Black Hawk continues to have three times the number of casinos, and generates more than seven times the gambling revenue that Central City does.
Although the 1990 statewide referendum allowing casino gambling in Black Hawk was promoted as a way to promote historic preservation in Black Hawk, critics have charged that it has had the opposite effect, and that the historic appearance of Black Hawk has been sacrificed to allow construction of the large casinos.http://achp.gov/casearchive/cases4-99CO.htmlhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F00EED61130F934A3575AC0A961958260http://www.westword.com/2006-04-13/news/a-house-divided/http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/list.asp?i=11
Tax from the gambling revenue provides funding for the State Historical Fund, administered by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
Bicycling ban
As of January 24, 2010, the city of Black Hawk banned bicycle use on most of the streets in the city, with the city manager claiming there isn't enough room on the roads for cars, buses, trucks and bicycles. Bicycle advocacy groups are planning a challenge of the new law. Bicycle legal experts suggest that the Black Hawk law is in violation of Colorado law, and therefore illegal and not enforceable. Area bicyclists use the main road in Black Hawk to connect to the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway route. Opponents of the law have suggested a boycott of the town and its businesses. The ban was prompted by a surge in vehicular traffic following the change in maximum casino betting limits from $5 to $100. Black Hawk City Manager Michael Copp said that the city council, which passed the new law, believes it is best for the casinos and their patrons. The penalty for riding a bicycle through Black Hawk is a $68 fine.Geography
Black Hawk is located at 39°48′11"N 105°29′32"W (39.803149, -105.492265).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²).
Demographics
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 118 people, 54 households, and 28 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 80.9 people per square mile (31.2/km²). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 54.2 per square mile (20.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.75% White, 3.39% African American, 0.85% Native American, 5.93% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.17% of the population.
There were 54 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 131.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,583, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $25,985. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.
Attractions
- Casinos - While smaller, Black Hawk has more casinos than Atlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
.- Ameristar Casino
- Black Hawk Station
- Bull Durham Saloon & Casino
- Bullwhackers Casino
- Canyon Casino
- Deja Vu Casino
- Lady Luck Casino, owned by Isle of Capri Casinos
- Fitzgeralds Black Hawk
- Gilpin Hotel Casino
- Golden Gates Casino
- Golden Gulch Casino
- Golden Mardi Gras Casino
- Isle of Capri Black Hawk
- Red Dolly Casino
- Riviera Black Hawk
- Sliver Hawk Casino
- The Lodge Casino
- Wild Card Casino
Personalities
Notable people born or residing in Black Hawk include:- Nathaniel P. HillNathaniel P. HillNathaniel Peter Hill was a United States Senator from Colorado.-Biography:Born in Montgomery, Orange County, New York, at the Nathaniel Hill Brick House . He married Alice Hale of Providence, Rhode Island, on July 26, 1860...
- Brown University chemistry professor, Black Hawk smelter magnate, U.S. Senator. - William Frederick Cody "Buffalo Bill" - briefly a resident of Black Hawk while searching for gold near the town for two months.
- John H. Gregory - made famous first gold strike in north Clear Creek on May 6, 1859, later setting camps in Black Hawk.
See also
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaDenver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Areathumb|300px|Map of the 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaThe Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Combined Statistical Area located in the Denver region of the state of Colorado...
- Front Range Urban CorridorFront Range Urban CorridorThe Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
- Gilpin County, ColoradoGilpin County, ColoradoGilpin County is the second least extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Gilpin County was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The county population was 4,757 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Central City...