La Veta, Colorado
| Town of La Veta, Colorado Spanish for The Vein (geology) |
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| Coordinates: 37°30′28″N 105°0′29″W / 37.50778°N 105.00806°WCoordinates: 37°30′28″N 105°0′29″W / 37.50778°N 105.00806°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County[1] | Huerfano |
| Incorporated (town) | June 16, 1886[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town[1] |
| • Mayor | |
| • Town Board | Larry Klinke Dale Davis Laurie Erwin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.37 sq mi (3.5 km2) |
| • Land | 1.37 sq mi (3.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation[3] | 7,037 ft (2,145 m) |
| Population (2010)[4] | |
| • Total | 800 |
| • Density | 583.9/sq mi (225.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code[5] | 81055 |
| Area code(s) | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-44100 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0204782 |
| Website | Town of La Veta Colorado |
La Veta is a Statutory Town in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 800 as of the 2010 census.[4]
Contents |
History [edit]
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2011) |
Colonel John Francisco (1820–1902) and Judge Henry Daigre (1832–1902) formed a partnership and purchased land under the Vigil-St. Vrain Land Grant in 1868. The land was located on a Native American trail used by the Ute tribe (and earlier the Comanches). Joined by Hiram Washington Vasquez (1843–1939), Francisco and Daigre built a plaza known as Francisco Fort to supply the Denver mining camps with products from ranching and farming. Ranches and farms like that of the Bela and Fain families were located nearby.
In Spanish, La Veta, translates as “the mineral vein”—an appropriate name given the town's association with mining claims such as the abandoned mining camp of Ojo, which is located a few miles from the town and whose concrete foundations can still be seen upon close inspection. Hiram Vasquez said that the town was named by Mexican settlers from a vein of white mineral which they called “La Veta Tierra Blanca”.
By 1876 the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company—later the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad—built a narrow gauge railroad through a right-of-way to the plaza and 200 acres (0.81 km2) for a town site donated by Francisco and Daigre. The tracks continued over what is known today as “Old La Veta Pass”, completing a trek up to an elevation of 9,382 feet (2,860 m) to a depot built by 1877 in a place known as “Uptop” and west into the San Luis Valley. In 1899 The railroad converted the rails to standard gauge and rerouted the rails to Veta Pass, 9,242 feet (2,817 m), 9 miles south of La Veta Pass. The old narrow gauge roadbed was converted to a wagon road. Though gravel, it can still be traversed by passenger vehicles in good conditions. Another pass, dubbed North La Veta Pass (9,413 ft.), two miles north of La Veta Pass, is traversed by US Highway 160, which is paved the entire way.
Geography [edit]
La Veta is located at 37°30′28″N 105°0′29″W / 37.50778°N 105.00806°W (37.507681, -105.008038)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.37 square miles (3.5 km2), all of it land. At one time (1919) there were sulphur springs in La Veta owned by Dr. Acker. They were last managed by W J Pierce of Colorado Springs (see http://www.kmitch.com/Huerfano/news1915.html)
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 165 |
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| 1890 | 361 | 118.8% | |
| 1900 | 254 | −29.6% | |
| 1910 | 691 | 172.0% | |
| 1920 | 737 | 6.7% | |
| 1930 | 782 | 6.1% | |
| 1940 | 897 | 14.7% | |
| 1950 | 701 | −21.9% | |
| 1960 | 632 | −9.8% | |
| 1970 | 589 | −6.8% | |
| 1980 | 611 | 3.7% | |
| 1990 | 726 | 18.8% | |
| 2000 | 924 | 27.3% | |
| 2010 | 800 | −13.4% | |
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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 800 people, 415 households, and 222 families residing in the town. The population density was 583.9 people per square mile (225.4/km²). There were 566 housing units at an average density of 413.1 per square mile (161.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.1% White, 0.9% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 2.6% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 11.4% of the population.[4]
There were 415 households of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.5% were non-families. 42.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93, and the average family size was 2.60.[4]
The median age in the town was 52.8 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.4% were from 25 to 44; 39.2% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.[4]
The median income for a household was $37,457, and the median income for a family was $66,964. Males had a median income of $50,577 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,066. About 12.0% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[4]
Education [edit]
There is one school in the town of La Veta, La veta RE2. It has a total of 229 students. La Veta has the highest CSAP scores in Huerfano county. The school sports team are the La Veta Redskins, which for the last few years have been going to state tournaments in almost every sport.
Culture [edit]
In popular culture and the arts [edit]
In 1878, about the journey to the top of Old La Veta Pass, Helen Hunt Jackson wrote:
“From the mouth of the pass to the summit is Measured in miles – fourteen miles; Measured in hours – three hours; Measured in sensations – the length of a dream.”
Climate [edit]
| Climate data for La Veta, Colorado (Elevation 7,037ft) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
62 (17) |
74 (23) |
79 (26) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
85 (29) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
65 (18) |
97 (36) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 46.9 (8.3) |
47.9 (8.8) |
48.5 (9.2) |
57.2 (14) |
67.6 (19.8) |
76.7 (24.8) |
83.7 (28.7) |
81.1 (27.3) |
72.9 (22.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
57.3 (14.1) |
44.0 (6.7) |
62.5 (16.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 16.5 (−8.6) |
12.7 (−10.7) |
17.3 (−8.2) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
37.5 (3.1) |
43.8 (6.6) |
53.8 (12.1) |
50.6 (10.3) |
41.2 (5.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
13.3 (−10.4) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−10 (−23) |
−17 (−27) |
12 (−11) |
17 (−8) |
32 (0) |
42 (6) |
32 (0) |
20 (−7) |
5 (−15) |
−5 (−21) |
−17 (−27) |
−25 (−32) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.40 (10.2) |
1.00 (25.4) |
1.42 (36.1) |
1.47 (37.3) |
1.63 (41.4) |
1.49 (37.8) |
3.14 (79.8) |
2.50 (63.5) |
1.95 (49.5) |
0.68 (17.3) |
0.40 (10.2) |
0.84 (21.3) |
16.94 (430.3) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 9.3 (23.6) |
20.9 (53.1) |
24.0 (61) |
13.9 (35.3) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.0 (2.5) |
7.9 (20.1) |
5.9 (15) |
16.4 (41.7) |
100.3 (254.8) |
| Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[7] | |||||||||||||
Gallery [edit]
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Goss Homestead barn, near La Veta. The Goss family settled in Huerfano County in the late 19th century.
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The Uptop Depot was built by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company in 1877, at Old La Veta Pass.
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La Veta panorama, 2006
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b c d e f "American FactFinder 2". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- Christofferson, Nancy C.; Huerfano World Newspaper; Walsenburg, CO.; 1991
- Christofferson, Nancy C.; Coal Was King: Huerfano County's Mining History; 2000; USA
- Denver Daily Tribune; 1877
- Orton, Agnes Bombard and other Southern Colorado Auxiliary of the Territorial Daughters of Colorado; Pioneers of the Territory of Southern Colorado; Volume 2; Monte Vista, Colorado; 1980
External links [edit]
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