Morrison, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 430 at the 2000 census
. It is notably where Red Rocks Amphitheatre
is located.
, he was instrumental in bringing the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad to Morrison in 1874.
As a quarryman, Morrison developed the building stone and other industrial stone (lime, gypsum) of the Morrison/Mt. Vernon area, bringing fame to the region for its high-quality dimension stone. Two of the three stone buildings he built in Morrison, as well as the Mt. Vernon House further north, are still standing; all three surviving buildings are recognized historic sites (National Register of Historic Places, 1976). Before its demolition in 1982, the original Evergreen Hotel, built by George Morrison in 1874, served as the first home of Sacred Heart College (now Regis University
), and later as the Mt. Morrison Casino, where John Brisben Walker
entertained many of the dignitaries he brought to the foothills as part of his promotional enterprises. The Morrison Schoolhouse he built served the town’s educational needs from its construction in 1875 until 1955, and stands today as a private residence. The Cliff House, built as the Morrison family home in 1873, now provides guest lodging.
These landmarks represent a distinctive style of construction and are enduring monuments to George Morrison’s contributions to Jefferson County
’s history. Stone for these structures was quarried in his "red sandstone quarry" at the end of the Dakota Hogback
near Morrison. Building stone was also shipped to Denver, where it now comprises parts of the Brown Palace, Union Station, and "many of Denver's early day mansions" (Brown, 1976).
Mt. Morrison behind Red Rocks Park
is also named after George Morrison. In the late 1800s, an important regional geologic layer of Late Jurassic age, the Morrison Formation, was named after the small town of Morrison, and is today famous as the first discovery site of three 150-million-year-old dinosaurs, Apatosaurus
, Diplodocus
, and the Colorado state fossil, Stegosaurus
. The Morrison Formation covers parts of thirteen western states and has yielded much of our understanding of the extinct animals that lived in the west so long ago.
s Stegosaurus armatus and Apatosaurus ajax were discovered near Morrison by Arthur Lakes
. The majority of these fossils were shipped to O.C. Marsh at Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut. These finds from the Morrison area figured in the 19th century "Bone Wars
" between rival paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope
and Othniel Charles Marsh
.
In 1896, the Late Jurassic section of sedimentary rock excavated by Lakes was formally named the Morrison Formation
for the town near the prominent outcrops where it was described (Eldridge, 1896). In 1944, a type locality was designated at the roadcut along the north side of W. Alameda Parkway, 2 mi north of town of Morrison, in SE/4 sec. 23, T. 4 S., R. 40 W., Jefferson Co., CO (Waldschmidt and LeRoy, 1944).
The Morrison Natural History Museum in Morrison houses and displays some fossils found by Lakes and Museum staff has begun reworking Lakes' original digs at Quarry 10. In 2006, the MNHM reported rare adult Stegosaurus tracks from the Morrison area. A year later the first hatchling Stegosaurus tracks were reported. These fossils are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum. http://www.mnhm.org/
Cretaceous age dinosaur tracks and one of Lakes' historic dig sites can still be viewed on what is now known as Dinosaur Ridge
east of Morrison.
Located near Morrison is a leading archaeological site
; known as the LoDaisKa Site
, it was inhabited for approximately 7,500 years.
Morrison's first ordinances were passed in February and March 1906, as the original Board began the process of managing the Town's affairs. The first set a fiscal year beginning March 1, directed the Clerk to certify valuation and the Board to levy taxes based thereon, and directed the Town Treasurer to collect funds from the County Treasurer.
Pete Morrison
, grandson of the town's founder and son of the first mayor, achieved fame during the early 1900s as a cowboy star in silent film
, and ultimately had his own studio, Lariat Productions, in Hollywood.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Morrison is southwest of Denver and is located on State Highway 470
and Morrison Road.
of 2000, there were 430 people, 136 households, and 73 families residing in the town. The population density
was 194.7 people per square mile (75.1/km²). There were 136 housing units at an average density of 61.6 per square mile (23.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.84% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.
There were 125 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 11.9% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 43.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 64.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 62.0 males. Population statistics are influenced by the large number of town residents who domicile in the Bear Creek Nursing Home.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,438, and the median income for a family was $68,333. Males had a median income of $37,292 versus $30,893 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,347. About 4.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Historic Morrison
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
, 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 430 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is notably where Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure near Morrison, Colorado, where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a...
is located.
History
This small foothills settlement is named after George Morrison (April 16, 1822-June 11, 1895), a builder and businessman who left a mark not only on the town that now bears his name, but on the history of the entire area. A stonemason who immigrated to the Mt. Vernon area in 1859, he helped found the Town of Mt. Vernon and built the Mt. Vernon House, seat of the territorial government under Robert Steele, and an important stop for travelers on the Mt. Vernon Toll Road from Denver to the goldfields of the Rocky Mountains. He became a United States citizen on May 22, 1862 (Brown, 1976). George Morrison later moved south to Bear Creek, where he founded the Morrison Stone, Lime, and Town Co., and in 1874 platted the town that became known as Morrison, or briefly as Mt. Morrison. With Gov. John EvansJohn 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...
, he was instrumental in bringing the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad to Morrison in 1874.
As a quarryman, Morrison developed the building stone and other industrial stone (lime, gypsum) of the Morrison/Mt. Vernon area, bringing fame to the region for its high-quality dimension stone. Two of the three stone buildings he built in Morrison, as well as the Mt. Vernon House further north, are still standing; all three surviving buildings are recognized historic sites (National Register of Historic Places, 1976). Before its demolition in 1982, the original Evergreen Hotel, built by George Morrison in 1874, served as the first home of Sacred Heart College (now Regis University
Regis University
Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
), and later as the Mt. Morrison Casino, where John Brisben Walker
John Brisben Walker
John Brisben Walker was a United States magazine publisher and automobile entrepreneur, in later years a resident of Jefferson County, Colorado.-Biography:...
entertained many of the dignitaries he brought to the foothills as part of his promotional enterprises. The Morrison Schoolhouse he built served the town’s educational needs from its construction in 1875 until 1955, and stands today as a private residence. The Cliff House, built as the Morrison family home in 1873, now provides guest lodging.
These landmarks represent a distinctive style of construction and are enduring monuments to George Morrison’s contributions to Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
’s history. Stone for these structures was quarried in his "red sandstone quarry" at the end of the Dakota Hogback
Dakota Hogback
The Dakota Hogback is a long hogback ridge at the eastern fringe of the Rocky Mountains that extends north-south from southern Wyoming through Colorado and into northern New Mexico in the United States. The ridge is prominently visible as the first line of foothills along the edge of the Great Plains...
near Morrison. Building stone was also shipped to Denver, where it now comprises parts of the Brown Palace, Union Station, and "many of Denver's early day mansions" (Brown, 1976).
Mt. Morrison behind Red Rocks Park
Red Rocks Park
Red Rocks Park is a mountain park in Jefferson County, Colorado, owned and maintained by the city of Denver as part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. The park is known for its very large red sandstone outcrops. Many of these rock formations within the park have names, from the mushroom-shaped...
is also named after George Morrison. In the late 1800s, an important regional geologic layer of Late Jurassic age, the Morrison Formation, was named after the small town of Morrison, and is today famous as the first discovery site of three 150-million-year-old dinosaurs, Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus , also known by the popular but scientifically deprecated synonym Brontosaurus, is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived from about 154 to 150 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period . It was one of the largest land animals that ever existed, with an average length of and a...
, Diplodocus
Diplodocus
Diplodocus , or )is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston. The generic name, coined by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878, is a Neo-Latin term derived from Greek "double" and "beam", in reference to its double-beamed chevron bones...
, and the Colorado state fossil, Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus is a genus of armored stegosaurid dinosaur. They lived during the Late Jurassic period , some 155 to 150 million years ago in what is now western North America. In 2006, a specimen of Stegosaurus was announced from Portugal, showing that they were present in Europe as well...
. The Morrison Formation covers parts of thirteen western states and has yielded much of our understanding of the extinct animals that lived in the west so long ago.
Dinosaur Discoveries
In 1877, the holotypic remains of the dinosaurDinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s Stegosaurus armatus and Apatosaurus ajax were discovered near Morrison by Arthur Lakes
Arthur Lakes
Arthur Lakes was a notable geologist, artist, writer, teacher and minister. He captured much of his geological and palaeontological field work in sketches and watercolours...
. The majority of these fossils were shipped to O.C. Marsh at Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut. These finds from the Morrison area figured in the 19th century "Bone Wars
Bone Wars
The Bone Wars, also known as the "Great Dinosaur Rush", refers to a period of intense fossil speculation and discovery during the Gilded Age of American history, marked by a heated rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh...
" between rival paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope
Edward Drinker Cope
Edward Drinker Cope was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. Born to a wealthy Quaker family, Cope distinguished himself as a child prodigy interested in science; he published his first scientific paper at the age of nineteen...
and Othniel Charles Marsh
Othniel Charles Marsh
Othniel Charles Marsh was an American paleontologist. Marsh was one of the preeminent scientists in the field; the discovery or description of dozens of news species and theories on the origins of birds are among his legacies.Born into a modest family, Marsh was able to afford higher education...
.
In 1896, the Late Jurassic section of sedimentary rock excavated by Lakes was formally named the Morrison Formation
Morrison Formation
The Morrison Formation is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimentary rock that is found in the western United States, which has been the most fertile source of dinosaur fossils in North America. It is composed of mudstone, sandstone, siltstone and limestone and is light grey, greenish...
for the town near the prominent outcrops where it was described (Eldridge, 1896). In 1944, a type locality was designated at the roadcut along the north side of W. Alameda Parkway, 2 mi north of town of Morrison, in SE/4 sec. 23, T. 4 S., R. 40 W., Jefferson Co., CO (Waldschmidt and LeRoy, 1944).
The Morrison Natural History Museum in Morrison houses and displays some fossils found by Lakes and Museum staff has begun reworking Lakes' original digs at Quarry 10. In 2006, the MNHM reported rare adult Stegosaurus tracks from the Morrison area. A year later the first hatchling Stegosaurus tracks were reported. These fossils are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum. http://www.mnhm.org/
Cretaceous age dinosaur tracks and one of Lakes' historic dig sites can still be viewed on what is now known as Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge is part of the Morrison Fossil Area National Natural Landmark located in Morrison, Colorado, just west of Denver.The Dinosaur Ridge area is one of the world's most famous dinosaur fossil localities. In 1877, some of the best-known dinosaurs were found here, including Apatosaurus,...
east of Morrison.
Located near Morrison is a leading archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
; known as the LoDaisKa Site
LoDaisKa Site
The LoDaisKa Site is a prominent archaeological site in the U.S. state of Colorado, located within a rockshelter near Morrison. The rockshelter was first inhabited by people of the Archaic through the Middle Ceramic period, generally spanning 3000 BC to 1000 AD.-Geography:Located near the town of...
, it was inhabited for approximately 7,500 years.
Morrison in the 20th Century
The Town of Morrison was officially incorporated following a unanimous election on January 9, 1906. Sixty-nine votes were cast. On February 13, 1906, a second election gave the newly created Town a Board of Trustees. The first Mayor was Thomas Cowan Morrison, son of the town's founder. The original trustees were Dr. Frank L. Luce, Charles Pike, Jacob Schneider, J.W. McLean, Peter O. Nelson, and Lawrence E. "Lee" LaGrow. Most of those names are well recognized as pioneers in Morrison's history. The new Board held its first meeting on February 14th, 1906.Morrison's first ordinances were passed in February and March 1906, as the original Board began the process of managing the Town's affairs. The first set a fiscal year beginning March 1, directed the Clerk to certify valuation and the Board to levy taxes based thereon, and directed the Town Treasurer to collect funds from the County Treasurer.
Pete Morrison
Pete Morrison
George D. Morrison, nicknamed Pete, was an American silent western film actor born August 8, 1890 in Westminster, Colorado. During his childhood he lived at Morrison, Colorado and Idaho Springs, and got his early tastes of horsemanship riding with his father Thomas during the summer...
, grandson of the town's founder and son of the first mayor, achieved fame during the early 1900s as a cowboy star in silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
, and ultimately had his own studio, Lariat Productions, in Hollywood.
Geography
Morrison is located at 39°39′6"N 105°11′25"W (39.651764, -105.190344).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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Morrison is southwest of Denver and is located on State Highway 470
Colorado State Highway 470
State Highway 470 is the southwestern portion of the Denver Metro area's beltway. Originally planned as Interstate 470 in the 1960s, the beltway project was attacked on environmental impact grounds and the interstate beltway was never built...
and Morrison Road.
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 430 people, 136 households, and 73 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 194.7 people per square mile (75.1/km²). There were 136 housing units at an average density of 61.6 per square mile (23.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.84% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.
There were 125 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 11.9% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 43.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 64.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 62.0 males. Population statistics are influenced by the large number of town residents who domicile in the Bear Creek Nursing Home.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,438, and the median income for a family was $68,333. Males had a median income of $37,292 versus $30,893 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 $24,347. About 4.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Famous Folk Singer Patrick ParkPatrick Park-Early life:Park grew up in Morrison, Colorado. He was exposed to the arts at an early age: his mother was a published poet, and his father was a doctor who enjoyed playing folk and blues records and the guitar at home...
- Prominent Christian Writer Margaret FeinbergMargaret FeinbergMargaret Feinberg is an author and public speaker based in Morrison, Colorado. She creates books, Bible studies, and video curriculum aimed at the Christian bookstore market.- Biography :...
- Local Legend Christopher Wells
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...
External links
Historic Morrison