Cañon City, Colorado

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"Canon City" redirects here. For the 1948 film, see Canon City (film). For the Canon City meteorite of 1973, see Meteorite falls.
City of Cañon City, Colorado
downtown Cañon City
Nickname(s): Climate Capital of Colorado, Cañon
Location in Fremont County and the State of Colorado
Coordinates: 38°26′48″N 105°13′42″W / 38.44667°N 105.22833°W / 38.44667; -105.22833Coordinates: 38°26′48″N 105°13′42″W / 38.44667°N 105.22833°W / 38.44667; -105.22833
Country United States
State Colorado
County Fremont County Seat[1]
Settled 1860
Incorporated April 3, 1872[2]
Government
 • Type Home Rule Municipality[1]
Area
 • Total 12.0 sq mi (31.2 km2)
 • Land 12.0 sq mi (31.1 km2)
Elevation 5,332 ft (1,625 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 16,400
 • Density 1,366.7/sq mi (527.3/km2)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes[3] 81212 & 81215 (PO Box)
Area code(s) Area Code 719
Website City of Cañon City
Located in Cañon City's National Historic District, the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. It is currently unoccupied and in disrepair after a string of failed attempts to revive the business. The hotel was moved brick-by-brick from Silvercliff, Colo., in 1888.
Royal Gorge Bridge in 1987
Arkansas Riverwalk in Cañon City, part of John Griffin Regional Park, owned and operated by the Cañon City Area Metropolitan Recreation and Park District.
For other similar names see also Canyon City.

The City of Cañon City /ˈkænjən ˈsɪti/ is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, Colorado, USA.[4] The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,400 in 2010.[5] Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four Federal prisons and penitentiaries. Cañon City straddles the Arkansas River, and is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing.

In 1994, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved adding the tilde to the official name of Cañon City, a change from Canon City as the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975.[6] It is one of the few U.S. cities to have an eñe in its name, another being La Cañada Flintridge, California.

Contents

History[edit]

Cañon City was laid out on January 17, 1858 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for mining in South Park and the upper Arkansas River.[7]

1860s to 1900[edit]

In 1861, this town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the Second Colorado Infantry during the American Civil War. This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearby New Mexico and as far east as the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Missouri before ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for petroleum six miles north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of 50 feet, and he completed the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi River. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refined kerosene and fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products in Denver.[8]

A number of metal ore smelters were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at Cripple Creek in 1891.

Historical designations[edit]

The Cañon City Downtown Historic District is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[9]

Geography and climate[edit]

Cañon City is located at 38°26′48″N 105°13′42″W / 38.44667°N 105.22833°W / 38.44667; -105.22833 (38.446800, -105.228305)[10] at an altitude of 5,332 ft (1,625 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.0 square miles (31 km2), of which 12.0 square miles (31 km2) is land and 0.08% is water. Cañon City sits in the "high desert" land of southern Colorado, the same desert lands of Pueblo and Florence.

The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and 5,300 ft elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is 14 degrees warmer in Cañon City than in Grand Junction even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.[11]

Overnight low temperatures are also considerably warmer in Cañon City than in Denver. The average minimum temperature in January is 20 degrees. During July, overnight lows are 59 degrees on average. Cañon City has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Climate data for Cañon City, Colorado
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 76
(24)		 77
(25)		 82
(28)		 88
(31)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 107
(42)		 100
(38)		 100
(38)		 91
(33)		 83
(28)		 76
(24)		 107
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 49
(9)		 52
(11)		 58
(14)		 65
(18)		 73
(23)		 84
(29)		 90
(32)		 87
(31)		 79
(26)		 69
(21)		 56
(13)		 49
(9)		 67.6
(19.7)
Average low °F (°C) 20
(−7)		 23
(−5)		 28
(−2)		 35
(2)		 44
(7)		 53
(12)		 59
(15)		 58
(14)		 48
(9)		 38
(3)		 28
(−2)		 21
(−6)		 38
(3)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31)		 −16
(−27)		 −8
(−22)		 7
(−14)		 15
(−9)		 20
(−7)		 41
(5)		 37
(3)		 25
(−4)		 12
(−11)		 −24
(−31)		 −25
(−32)		 −25
(−32)
Precipitation inches (mm) 0.46
(11.7)		 0.38
(9.7)		 1.06
(26.9)		 1.47
(37.3)		 1.64
(41.7)		 1.24
(31.5)		 1.78
(45.2)		 2.05
(52.1)		 1.21
(30.7)		 0.72
(18.3)		 0.80
(20.3)		 0.49
(12.4)		 13.30
(337.8)
Source: Weather.com[12]

Demographics[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 15,431 people, 6,164 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,284.1 people per square mile (495.7/km²). There were 6,617 housing units at an average density of 550.6 per square mile (212.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.15% White, 1.59% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.33% of the population.

There were 6,164 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,736, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,258 versus $21,849 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 7.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Law[edit]

Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and municipal courts, Cañon City is also home to the courts for the 11th Judicial District of Colorado.

Government[edit]

Cañon City is governed via the mayor-council system. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. The mayor is elected by the entire city.

Economy[edit]

The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching and farming, but Cañon City has slowly transitioned from an agricultural community to more of a diverse economy. The major employers in Cañon City include the Colorado Department of Corrections and Centura Health, who owns St. Thomas More Hospital and the Progressive Care Center.

Prisons[edit]

Colorado Department of Corrections operates the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City.[14] In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in unincorporated areas in Fremont County, Colorado State Penitentiary, the location of the state death row and execution chamber [15] is in Fremont County.[16] Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,[17] Centennial Correctional Facility,[18] Fremont Correctional Facility,[19] Four Mile Correctional Center,[20] and Skyline Correctional Center.[21]

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility, near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County, was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.[22][23]

Places of interest[edit]

Former places of interest[edit]

Notable residents[edit]

Sister cities[edit]

See also[edit]

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References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02. 
  3. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved September 7, 2007. 
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2006-06-20. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
  6. ^ "Cañon City". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. 
  7. ^ "Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City Times 10 November 1860, p.4.
  8. ^ Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960) Historical summary, in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.
  9. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. 
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  11. ^ http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CO&refer=
  12. ^ Weather.com—[1]. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  13. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  14. ^ "Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."
  15. ^ "Death Row FAQ." (Archive) Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  16. ^ "Colorado State Penitentiary." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  17. ^ "Arrowhead Correctional Center." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  18. ^ "Centennial Correctional Facility." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  19. ^ "Fremont Correctional Facility." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  20. ^ "Four Mile Correctional Center." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  21. ^ "Skyline Correctional Center." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  22. ^ Mitchell, Kirk. "Cañon City women's prison closes today." The Denver Post. June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  23. ^ "GDE Testing Centers by City." Colorado Department of Education. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility 3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."

External links[edit]

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