Elizabeth, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The Town of Elizabeth is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Elbert County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 1,434 at the U.S. Census 2000.
s in an open glade like growth habit suitable for both ranching and timber operations. The Elbert County History (ISBN 0-88107-128-5 edited by Margee Gabehart) is not clear on when exactly the mill that eventually caused the formation of the town of Elizabeth was set up. It was apparently on the far north end of the land belonging to Thomas Phillips (who settled in the area in 1865) and to the east of the creek to provide water to the steam engine. This first mill was wiped out in a flood and thereafter was reestablished by Alden Bassatt on the west side of the creek near what is today Main Street in Elizabeth. Thereafter it was sold to the Weber brothers of Kansas and became known as the Weber Mill. P.P. Gomer set up another mill operation in 1860 or 1861 to the north of the Weber operation on Leroy Evans' Ranch.
The workers settled near the Weber Mill and a community started to grow with the first three blocks being given by Charles Garland and Thomas Phillips in 1880. The Denver and New Orleans Railroad, which was started by Governor Evans
among others, in 1881, arrived in the nascent town by May 1881. With trains eventually going through six times daily the town grew much faster than the other nearby settlements and Thomas Phillips applied for a town plot on June 19 of 1882.
The D&NO went through many changes, becoming the Denver, Texas, and Fort Worth and being purchased by the Colorado and Southern. The Memorial Day flood of 1935 speeded up a process of service being discontinued and track pulled out that started in 1913 along some parts of the line. Service to Elizabeth continued until 1936 when the Castlewood Canyon Dam broke destroying the track northwest of Parker, Colorado
. The remaining track between Parker and Elizabeth was removed by 1937.
The town revived due to the usual Colorado pattern of artists and freethinkers moving to small towns in the late 1960s through the 1970s. By the 1980s many new residents were arriving as the town became a bedroom community for the Denver metro area with the area around Elizabeth becoming the most populous part of the county. Though few live in the town itself more than half of county residents use an Elizabeth address.
Elizabeth is now home to Elbert County
's only daily newspaper, the Meadowlark Herald, which is also the only newspaper wholly owned and published in Elbert County. The newspaper, which is also the unofficial community newspaper of the Meadowlark Cooperative
, covers news throughout Elbert County, Colorado and the world.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,434 people, 496 households, and 380 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,670.6 people per square mile (643.8/km²). There were 513 housing units at an average density of 597.6 per square mile (230.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.00% White, 0.07% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 3.49% from other races
, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population.
There were 496 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples
living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,596, and the median income for a family was $51,902. Males had a median income of $38,875 versus $25,066 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,902. About 7.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Elbert County, Colorado
Elbert County is the 21st most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,872 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Kiowa...
, 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 population was 1,434 at the U.S. Census 2000.
History
According to records of the area the first settler was a man named Peter I. Van Wormer in 1859 on Running Creek, which today runs through Elizabeth. Following him on his journey was pioneer and trapper Justin Marlow. Aside from Marlow, others followed establishing small ranches in the area that was then forested with ponderosa pinePonderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
s in an open glade like growth habit suitable for both ranching and timber operations. The Elbert County History (ISBN 0-88107-128-5 edited by Margee Gabehart) is not clear on when exactly the mill that eventually caused the formation of the town of Elizabeth was set up. It was apparently on the far north end of the land belonging to Thomas Phillips (who settled in the area in 1865) and to the east of the creek to provide water to the steam engine. This first mill was wiped out in a flood and thereafter was reestablished by Alden Bassatt on the west side of the creek near what is today Main Street in Elizabeth. Thereafter it was sold to the Weber brothers of Kansas and became known as the Weber Mill. P.P. Gomer set up another mill operation in 1860 or 1861 to the north of the Weber operation on Leroy Evans' Ranch.
The workers settled near the Weber Mill and a community started to grow with the first three blocks being given by Charles Garland and Thomas Phillips in 1880. The Denver and New Orleans Railroad, which was started by Governor Evans
John Evans (governor)
John Evans was a U.S. politician, physician, railroad promoter, Governor of the Territory of Colorado, and namesake of Evanston, Illinois; Evans, Colorado; and Mount Evans, Colorado...
among others, in 1881, arrived in the nascent town by May 1881. With trains eventually going through six times daily the town grew much faster than the other nearby settlements and Thomas Phillips applied for a town plot on June 19 of 1882.
The D&NO went through many changes, becoming the Denver, Texas, and Fort Worth and being purchased by the Colorado and Southern. The Memorial Day flood of 1935 speeded up a process of service being discontinued and track pulled out that started in 1913 along some parts of the line. Service to Elizabeth continued until 1936 when the Castlewood Canyon Dam broke destroying the track northwest of Parker, Colorado
Parker, Colorado
The Town of Parker is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. As a self-declared "Town" under the Home Rule Statutes, Parker is the 2nd most populous town in the county, behind Castle Rock. In recent years, Parker has become a commuter town at the southeasternmost...
. The remaining track between Parker and Elizabeth was removed by 1937.
The town revived due to the usual Colorado pattern of artists and freethinkers moving to small towns in the late 1960s through the 1970s. By the 1980s many new residents were arriving as the town became a bedroom community for the Denver metro area with the area around Elizabeth becoming the most populous part of the county. Though few live in the town itself more than half of county residents use an Elizabeth address.
Elizabeth is now home to Elbert County
Elbert County
Elbert County is the name of two counties in the United States:* Elbert County, Colorado* Elbert County, Georgia...
's only daily newspaper, the Meadowlark Herald, which is also the only newspaper wholly owned and published in Elbert County. The newspaper, which is also the unofficial community newspaper of the Meadowlark Cooperative
Meadowlark cooperative
The Meadowlark Cooperative, a farming community near Agate, Colorado, administers the only private free land program in the United States through democracy...
, covers news throughout Elbert County, Colorado and the world.
Geography
Elizabeth is located at 39°21′36"N 104°36′0"W (39.359954, -104.600063).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 town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 1,434 people, 496 households, and 380 families residing in the town. 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 1,670.6 people per square mile (643.8/km²). There were 513 housing units at an average density of 597.6 per square mile (230.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.00% White, 0.07% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 3.49% 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 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population.
There were 496 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% 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, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,596, and the median income for a family was $51,902. Males had a median income of $38,875 versus $25,066 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 town was $18,902. About 7.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
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...
- Elbert County, ColoradoElbert County, ColoradoElbert County is the 21st most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,872 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Kiowa...
- 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...
- State of Colorado