Empire, Colorado

The historic Town of Empire is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The population was 282 at the 2010 census.[8] The town is a former mining settlement that flourished during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late 19th century.

Town of Empire, Colorado
Statutory Town
Empire as seen from Douglas Mountain
Nickname(s): 
Heart of the Rocky Mountain Empire
Location of Empire in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 39°45′35″N 105°40′58″W[1]
Country United States
State State of Colorado
CountyClear Creek County[2]
IncorporatedApril 12, 1882[3]
Government
 • TypeStatutory Town[2]
Area
 • Total0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2)
 • Land0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation8,615 ft (2,626 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total282
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
304
 • Density1,130.11/sq mi (437.13/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code[7]
80438
Area code(s)303 and 720
FIPS code08-24620
GNIS feature ID0181355
Highways US 40

It is located in the valley of Clear Creek west of Denver, on the north side of the valley. The town consists of several commercial establishments and residents. U.S. Highway 40 passes through the town as its ascends towards Berthoud Pass, putting the town on the direct route between Denver and Middle Park.

History

A post office called Empire City was established in 1861, and the name was changed to Empire in 1886.[9] The town was named after New York, the "Empire State".[10] Empire was incorporated in 1882.[3]

Geography

Empire is located in north-central Clear Creek County at 39°45′37″N 105°40′59″W.[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), all of it land.

West of the town of Empire is a group of high summits along the Continental Divide, including Mount Flora, Mount Eva, Parry Peak, James Peak, Colorado Mines Peak, and Mount Bancroft,[12] named for Frederick J. Bancroft who was noted for his public health and historical work for the state.[12][13]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890134—
1900276106.0%
1910179−35.1%
1920105−41.3%
193093−11.4%
194017487.1%
195022831.0%
1960110−51.8%
1970249126.4%
198042369.9%
1990401−5.2%
2000355−11.5%
2010282−20.6%
Est. 2019304[6]7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 355 people, 163 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,406.0 people per square mile (548.3/km2). There were 179 housing units at an average density of 708.9 per square mile (276.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.37% White, 3.10% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.66% of the population.

There were 163 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,159, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $40,313 versus $29,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,417. About 10.5% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Notable visitors

The poet Vachel Lindsay visited his family often at their vacation spot in Empire. He would sometimes walk there on foot, doing a tramp from Illinois to Colorado, chanting poems and doing farm work along the way.

Climate

This climate type is dominated by the winter season, a long, bitterly cold period with short, clear days, relatively little precipitation mostly in the form of snow, and low humidity.[16]

Points of interest
General store along U.S. Highway 40 in Empire, Colorado
  • Peck House - Historic hotel and restaurant.
  • Hard Rock Cafe - This is the original, dating from 1934, and named for the hardrock miners that were its early customers. It predates and is not affiliated with the chain of restaurants that also call themselves the Hard Rock Cafe.

In fiction

Empire is the setting of Bonnie Nadzam's short story, titled "Empire" after the town.[17]

gollark: We should ABOLISH (unwanted) DEATH.
gollark: Death is actually quite bad. When you die, people are unhappy about it. When you die, you can no longer do interesting things.
gollark: BEE YOU, death is very uncool.
gollark: Why? Prioritising altruists increases total altruism.
gollark: For example, the recent invention of apioforms.

See also

References
  1. "2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  2. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  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. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on August 18, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Empire town, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  9. "Post offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 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. 20.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "The Mountains of Grand View". pp. 1, 7. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  13. Marilyn Griggs Riley; Thomas J. Noel (2006). "Caroline Bancroft". High Altitude Attitudes: Six Savvy Colorado Women. Big Earth Publishing. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-55566-375-9.
  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. Climate Summary for Empire, Colorado
  17. Nadzam, Bonnie. "Empire". The Kenyon Review, vol 32, issue 3. Summer 2010. Gambier. pp. 56-69.
  • Ruggles, Eleanor. The West Going Heart. Norton, 1959.
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