Walden, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The Town of Walden is a Statutory Town that is the county seat
of, and the only incorporated municipality
in, Jackson County
, Colorado
, United States
. It is situated in the center of a large open valley called North Park
. People from Walden and the surrounding area refer to themselves as "North Parkers". The town population was 734 at the 2000 census
. The town sits at an elevation of 8099 feet (2469 meters) and is the only still incorporated town in the county. It was established in 1889 and was incorporated 2 December 1890. It briefly was known as Sagebrush, but was renamed Walden to honor Marcus Aurelius Walden, a local area postmaster.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 734 people, 330 households, and 207 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,166.9 people per square mile (833.5/km²). There were 397 housing units at an average density of 1,172.0 per square mile (450.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.32% White, 0.14% African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.82% from other races
, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.95% of the population.
There were 330 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,313, and the median income for a family was $34,423. Males had a median income of $31,111 versus $18,611 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,964. About 14.2% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of, and the only incorporated municipality
Colorado municipalities
The 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:...
in, Jackson County
Jackson County, Colorado
Jackson County is the fourth-least densely populated of the Colorado 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. The county population was 1,577 at the 2000 Census. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Walden.- History :...
, 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...
. It is situated in the center of a large open valley called North Park
North Park (Colorado basin)
North Park is a high, sparsely populated basin in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado in the United States. It encompasses a wide valley in Jackson County rimmed by mountain ranges at the headwaters of the North Platte River and several smaller tributaries, including the Michigan River,...
. People from Walden and the surrounding area refer to themselves as "North Parkers". The town 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...
. The town sits at an elevation of 8099 feet (2469 meters) and is the only still incorporated town in the county. It was established in 1889 and was incorporated 2 December 1890. It briefly was known as Sagebrush, but was renamed Walden to honor Marcus Aurelius Walden, a local area postmaster.
Geography
Walden is located at 40°43′50"N 106°16′55"W (40.730606, -106.281811).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 734 people, 330 households, and 207 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 2,166.9 people per square mile (833.5/km²). There were 397 housing units at an average density of 1,172.0 per square mile (450.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.32% White, 0.14% African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.82% 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 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.95% of the population.
There were 330 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,313, and the median income for a family was $34,423. Males had a median income of $31,111 versus $18,611 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 $16,964. About 14.2% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
- State Highway 14Colorado State Highway 14State Highway 14 in the U.S. state of Colorado is an east–west state highway approximately long. One of the longest state highways in Colorado, it traverses four counties along the northern edge of the state, spanning a geography from the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains to the...
- State Highway 125Colorado State Highway 125State Highway 125 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Colorado. The highway runs north–south through Jackson and Grand counties in north central Colorado. It furnishes the principal north–south link through North Park and a connection to Middle Park over Willow Creek Pass...