Nucla, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Nucla is a Statutory Town in Montrose County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 734 at the 2000 census
. Its name comes from the town's founders intent that it serve as a "nucleus" for the surrounding farms and mines, although it has since come to be associated with the growth of uranium
mining in the region.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land. Nucla is located in an area of desert land, surrounding the Uncompahgre National Forest
.
of 2000, there were 734 people, 311 households, and 208 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,036.0 people per square mile (399.2/km²). There were 369 housing units at an average density of 520.8 per square mile (200.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.69% White, 1.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.54% from other races
, and 3.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.68% of the population.
There were 311 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,466, and the median income for a family was $33,636. Males had a median income of $32,417 versus $21,726 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,982. About 14.4% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
:
Montrose County, Colorado
Montrose County is the 17th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 41,276 at U.S. Census 2010. The county was named for its county seat, the City of Montrose...
, 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 734 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...
. Its name comes from the town's founders intent that it serve as a "nucleus" for the surrounding farms and mines, although it has since come to be associated with the growth of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
mining in the region.
Geography
Nucla is located at 38°16′0"N 108°32′50"W (38.266775, -108.547146).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land. Nucla is located in an area of desert land, surrounding the Uncompahgre National Forest
Uncompahgre National Forest
Uncompahgre National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering 955,229 acres in parts of Montrose, Mesa, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, San Juan, and Delta Counties in western Colorado...
.
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 734 people, 311 households, and 208 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 1,036.0 people per square mile (399.2/km²). There were 369 housing units at an average density of 520.8 per square mile (200.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.69% White, 1.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.54% 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 3.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.68% of the population.
There were 311 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% 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, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,466, and the median income for a family was $33,636. Males had a median income of $32,417 versus $21,726 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 $12,982. About 14.4% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
There are several prehistoric sites near Nucla on the Colorado State Register of Historic PropertiesColorado State Register of Historic Properties
Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, administered by the Colorado Historical Society Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, is a listing of significant historic resources...
:
- Cottonwood Cave is a large rock shelterRock shelterA rock shelter is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff....
inhabited by 270 BC and the earliest date at which corn was found in the state of Colorado. - Tabeguache Cave is another prehistoric rock shelter.
- Tabeguache Pueblo is an example of an early, dispersed Ancient Pueblo settlement, inhabited about AD 1100 and later abandoned.
Notable residents
- Bill SymonsBill SymonsBill Symons, born in Nucla, Colorado, is a former professional Canadian football running back with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- College football career :Symons played for the University of Colorado Buffaloes between 1962 and 1964...
, Canadian Football Hall of Famer. - Mikael Smith, 12th Colorado 4x State Wrestling Champion
- "Cowboy" Larry Lane, Professional wrestler, former Nucla High teacher and coach
- Torvald Thyssen, WWII combat mountaineer and engineer, designer of the spring-loaded climbing cam.
- Tucker Lane, Multiple state wrestling champ and 4-time Warior Classic champ
- Rob McCabe, 2X State Champion, 1st Collegiate All-American, 2X Wrestling All-American at Adams State, placing 4th both times at 125 pounds in 2005 and 2006
- Thomas "Truck" Stevenson 2000 1A Football State Champions. 2X All State Football. Played Division 2 football at Fort Lewis College. 2X All-RMAC 1st Team Defensive Lineman and 2X National Football Foundation & Hall of Fame ALL-Colorado Defensive Lineman. Lead Fort Lewis to its best season in 20 years to 7-4 winning the Dixie Bowl in 2006. Coached defensive line at Fort Lewis in 2005,2007,2008 seasons.
- Dan Aldrich, Cowboy Poet Extrordinaire
Local Artists
- Neva Wilson Acrylic Landscape Artist.
- Buzz Zatterstrom
- Cynthia Sampson Web Link http://www.zebrajazzstudio.com/