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Alma, Colorado

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Alma, Colorado
Statutory Town
Main Street
Main Street
Location in Park County and the State of Colorado
Location in Park County and the State of Colorado
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
County[1]Park County[2]
Incorporated1873-12-02[3]
Named forAlma James[4]
Government
 • TypeStatutory Town[1]
Area
 • Total0.362 sq mi (0.937 km2)
 • Land0.360 sq mi (0.933 km2)
 • Water0.002 sq mi (0.005 km2)  0.5%
Elevation
[2]
10,361 ft (3,158 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total270
 • Density750/sq mi (290/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
80420[5]
Area code719
INCITS place code0801530
GNIS feature ID0180003
Highways SH 9
Websitetownofalma.com
Highest town center in the United States

Alma is a Statutory Town located in Park County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 270 at the 2010 United States Census.

At an elevation of approximately 10,578 feet (3,224 m), it is the highest incorporated municipality in the United States with permanent residents.[2] Alma, which is a town, did not take the title as highest incorporated city from Leadville, Colorado, as is commonly believed. Leadville is still the highest incorporated city in North America. Using administrative boundaries as a measure, not settled areas, in 2006 Winter Park, Colorado became the highest incorporated town due to its annexation of a ski area.[7] Alma, however, has a contiguous residential area (on Mountain View Drive) extending to 11,680 feet (3,560 m) above sea level, while any such area in or near Winter Park reaches only 9,550 feet (2,910 m), Leadville 10,360 feet (3,160 m).

The town was named by a merchant named Mr. James, after his wife.[4] Another tradition states the town was named for the daughter of a resident.[8]

Geography

Alma is located at 39°17′03″N 106°03′48″W / 39.284116°N 106.063322°W / 39.284116; -106.063322,[9] along State Highway 9.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.362 square miles (0.94 km2), almost all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880446—
1890367−17.7%
1900297−19.1%
19103011.3%
1920127−57.8%
1930110−13.4%
1940469326.4%
1950149−68.2%
1960107−28.2%
197073−31.8%
198013280.8%
199014812.1%
200017920.9%
201027050.8%
2015 (est.)277[10]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Alma, c. 1870s

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 179 people, 94 households, and 40 families residing in the town. The population density was 523.6 people per square mile (203.3/km²). There were 147 housing units at an average density of 430.0 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.74% White, 2.23% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 3.35% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.35% of the population.

There were 94 households, of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.4% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.63.

The age distribution was 12.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 53.1% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 132.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 140.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,563, and the median income for a family was $59,688. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,165. None of the families and 4.3% of the population were living below the poverty line.

Climate

Alma's climate is subarctic (Dfc) and closely borders on an alpine climate with July average of 10.9 C.[13]

Climate data for Alma, Colorado
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 24.7
(−4.1) 		28.3
(−2.1) 		33.0
(0.6) 		38.5
(3.6) 		47.2
(8.4) 		58.4
(14.7) 		63.9
(17.7) 		62.4
(16.9) 		56.2
(13.4) 		45.6
(7.6) 		32.4
(0.2) 		26.0
(−3.3) 		43.1
(6.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 0.6
(−17.4) 		2.1
(−16.6) 		6.8
(−14.0) 		12.8
(−10.7) 		23.3
(−4.8) 		33.0
(0.6) 		37.9
(3.3) 		37.7
(3.2) 		30.7
(−0.7) 		21.1
(−6.1) 		8.3
(−13.2) 		2.4
(−16.4) 		18.1
(−7.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.04
(52) 		1.75
(44) 		2.35
(60) 		2.38
(60) 		2.10
(53) 		1.13
(29) 		2.24
(57) 		2.09
(53) 		1.49
(38) 		1.42
(36) 		1.96
(50) 		1.84
(47) 		22.79
(579)
Source: [13]

Mines

Approximately two miles from Alma are the remains of the defunct Orphan Boy mine (founded 1861), which produced gold, silver, lead, and zinc over a number of decades.[14]

The historic Sweet Home Mine near Alma, formerly a silver mine, now produces spectacular rhodochrosite mineral specimens.

  • Alma Town Sign
    Alma Town Sign
  • London mine building, near Alma
    London mine building, near Alma
  • Rhodochrosite specimen from the Sweet Home mine, near Alma
    Rhodochrosite specimen from the Sweet Home mine, near Alma

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2007-09-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. p. 22.
  5. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. August 21, 2007. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on 21 August 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Geographical Information". Town of Winter Park.
  8. ^ Dawson, John Frank (1954). 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. 6.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Alma, Co". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Laura King Van Dusen, "Early Days at the Orphan Boy: Fire in December 2011 Not Only Fire at Mine; Gold Production Worth $486 Million in 2013 Dollars", Historic Tales from Park County: Parked in the Past (Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013), ISBN 978-1-62619-161-7, pp. 37-43.
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