Salida, Colorado

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salida, Colorado
Statutory City[1]
City of Salida[1]
The Arkansas River Walk in downtown Salida.
The Arkansas River Walk in downtown Salida.
Nickname(s): 
Heart of the Rockies
Motto(s): 
"Union, Justice, Safety"
Location of the City of Salida in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Location of the City of Salida in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Salida is located in the United States
Salida
Salida
Location of the City of Salida in the United States.
Coordinates: 38°31′53″N 105°59′46″W / 38.53139°N 105.99611°W / 38.53139; -105.99611Coordinates: 38°31′53″N 105°59′46″W / 38.53139°N 105.99611°W / 38.53139; -105.99611
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyChaffee County[2]
CitySalida[1]
Founded1880
IncorporatedMarch 23, 1891[3]
Government
 • TypeStatutory City[1]
Area
[4]
 • Total2.77 sq mi (7.17 km2)
 • Land2.77 sq mi (7.17 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
7,083 ft (2,159 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,236
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
6,082
 • Density2,197.25/sq mi (848.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes[5]
81201, 81227 (PO Box), 81237
Area code(s)719
FIPS code08-67280
GNIS feature ID0204758
WebsiteOfficial website

The City of Salida (/səˈlaɪdə/ sə-LY-də; Spanish: [saˈliða], "exit") is the Statutory City that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.[7] The population was 5,236 at the 2010 census.[8]

History[]

A post office has been in operation at Salida since 1881.[9] The community was named on account of its location at the upper end of the canyon containing the Royal Gorge, Salida meaning "exit" in Spanish.[10]

  • Map of Salida, 1882

  • Panoramic View of Salida, 1910

  • Salida Depot, 1910

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.77 square miles (7.2 km2), and the Arkansas River, which runs through the town, is the major source of water for local agriculture.

The Sawatch Range runs north and south and is located roughly 10 miles (16 km) west of Salida. Methodist Mountain, which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. To the north of Salida is the Arkansas Valley and the town of Buena Vista.

U.S. Route 50 runs along the southern edge of the city and leads east down the Arkansas River 58 miles (93 km) to Cañon City; to the west it leads 4 miles (6 km) to Poncha Springs and 63 miles (101 km) over the Continental Divide to Gunnison.

Climate[]

According to the Köppen climate classification, Salida has a Cold semi-arid climate (BSk)

hideClimate data for Salida, Colorado (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 43.3
(6.3) 		45.5
(7.5) 		52.6
(11.4) 		60.5
(15.8) 		70.3
(21.3) 		80.0
(26.7) 		85.2
(29.6) 		82.0
(27.8) 		75.2
(24.0) 		64.6
(18.1) 		51.9
(11.1) 		42.5
(5.8) 		62.8
(17.1)
Average low °F (°C) 12.1
(−11.1) 		15.2
(−9.3) 		21.0
(−6.1) 		27.8
(−2.3) 		35.6
(2.0) 		42.2
(5.7) 		48.3
(9.1) 		46.6
(8.1) 		38.5
(3.6) 		28.6
(−1.9) 		20.3
(−6.5) 		12.6
(−10.8) 		29.1
(−1.6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.29
(7.4) 		0.30
(7.6) 		0.59
(15) 		0.94
(24) 		0.89
(23) 		0.65
(17) 		1.24
(31) 		1.61
(41) 		0.78
(20) 		0.95
(24) 		0.34
(8.6) 		0.30
(7.6) 		8.89
(226)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.5
(14) 		5.2
(13) 		7.2
(18) 		6.0
(15) 		2.1
(5.3) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		4.5
(11) 		6.9
(18) 		5.3
(13) 		42.9
(109)
Source: NOAA[11]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18902,586—
19003,72243.9%
19104,42518.9%
19204,6896.0%
19305,0658.0%
19404,969−1.9%
19504,553−8.4%
19604,5600.2%
19704,355−4.5%
19804,87011.8%
19904,737−2.7%
20005,50416.2%
20105,236−4.9%
2019 (est.)6,082[6]16.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

At the 2000 census there were 5,504 people, 2,504 households, and 1,449 families living in the city. The population density was 2,480.1 people per square mile (957.3/km2). There were 2,748 housing units at an average density of 1,238.3 per square mile (477.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.66% White, 0.05% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.76%.[13]

Of the 2,504 households 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 35.9% of households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median household income was $28,790 and the median family income was $38,240. Males had a median income of $30,447 versus $20,867 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,252. About 9.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

The city is served by Salida Public Schools. There are two public high schools, Salida High School and Horizons Exploratory Academy.

Infrastructure[]

Health care[]

Salida and Chaffee County are served by the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, located on the north side of Town on Rush Drive.

Transportation[]

Salida is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on both the Alamosa-Pueblo and the Gunnison-Denver Outrider lines.[14]

Culture[]

Salida is home to the Shavano Chapter of the Columbine Poets of Colorado, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The group organizes workshops and festivals and offers poetry contests for both adults and students.[15]

Notable people[]

  • Sally Blane, actress
  • Louie Croft Boyd, Superintendent of Nurses, Rio Grande Hospital
  • Chris Guccione, Major League Baseball umpire
  • Kent Haruf, novelist

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on September 3, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Salida city, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Post offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  10. ^ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 44.
  11. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ^ "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.
  15. ^ "Who Are The Columbine Poets?". Retrieved 28 October 2020.

External links[]

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