Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States.[7] As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854.[8] It was named in honor of John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853.[9] Gunnison is a home rule municipality which reserves the right to choose how it is governed.[10]

Gunnison, Colorado
Home Rule Municipality
Street and storefronts along Main Street
Motto(s): 
"Base Camp Of The Rocky Mountains"
Location of Gunnison in Gunnison County, Colorado
Coordinates: 38°32′40″N 106°55′42″W
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyGunnison[1]
IncorporatedMarch 1, 1880[2]
Named forJohn W. Gunnison
Government
 • TypeHome Rule Municipality[1]
 • MayorJim Gelwicks
 • City ManagerRuss Forrest
Area
 • Total4.18 sq mi (10.84 km2)
 • Land4.18 sq mi (10.84 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation7,703 ft (2,347 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,854
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
6,640
 • Density1,586.62/sq mi (612.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes[6]
81230-81231 and 81247
Area code(s)970
FIPS code08-33640
GNIS feature ID2410674
WebsiteCity of Gunnison

History

The town of Gunnison got its name from the first known Anglo-Saxon explorer of the area, John W. Gunnison. He was searching for a route for the transcontinental railroad in 1853 and only stayed for three days before traveling west to Utah. Gunnison saw its first population increase in the 1870s, due to the mining surge throughout the state. The railroad arrived soon after in 1880 to appreciative miners, ranchers, and farmers.

In the early 1800s, the groups moving into the Gunnison area were mainly fur trappers and mountain men, trying to make a living for themselves in the rocky mountain terrain. But a drop in fur prices in the 1840s essentially cut out the need for their jobs.

The late 1850s saw the start of people joining the hunt for gold in Gunnison county. Miners were in search of placer gold, but with the growing numbers of white men in the area, this brought conflict between the Ute tribes still around the county. At least several miners were killed by these tribes and this caused some of the miners to flee the area, caring more for their lives than potential gold bonanzas.

With the mining boom, Gunnison began to see an increase of people around the 1870s. Along with the miners coming in, ranchers and farmers were among the others that led to the Ute people becoming forced out of the area. The mining camps in Gunnison and around the county reportedly produced about 130,000 ounces of gold from the beginning of the gold rush through 1959. At the start this was mostly from placer deposits, but the largest amounts were from a by-product of silver-lead ore. The largest deposits were found along the Taylor River, as well as the Tincup and the Washington Gulch districts.

Before the railroad reached Gunnison in 1880, there was a debate as to which railroad line would claim the town as their territory. The D&RG and DSP&P were both battling for control over the area. This split the town into two sides, both disagreeing as to where the railroad depots should be placed in town. The "old" and "new" sides of town ended up agreeing to disagree and were happy to have any railroad come through town. Both lines ended up coming through town anyway, although the DSP&P shortly discontinued service to Gunnison. The D&RG was later reorganized as the D&RGW railroad and was a prominent line to Gunnison for about seventy years; it served as the primary means of transportation for the townspeople into the 1950s.

Also in 1880, the cattle industry in Gunnison was established. Realizing the poor conditions for farming (with only about eleven inches of rainfall annually and the short growing season due to the high elevation and alpine environment) the local farmers turned to ranching and began breeding cattle. To do this effectively, they had to clear and level fields for grazing purposes. Irrigation ditches also had to be cut into the ground to properly irrigate the fields in order to grow hay for the horses and cattle. Many of these practices are still in use, which can be seen while driving through and around the town to the various ranches that are still in operation.

John and William Outcalt were among the earliest settlers of Gunnison. They started their own ranch just north of town along the southeast bank of the Gunnison river. The brothers hailed from New Jersey, but decided to make the trip west for the sake of adventure and the prospect of making money. The eldest brother, John, built the irrigation system for their ranch and quickly began growing hay and other various grains. When the railroad came through town, he convinced them to expand more and ended up paying for and building the rail that ran through his property. Naming this stop Hay Spur, they produced enough hay to ship out over 800 carloads each year, which mainly headed north to the settlers of which is now the town of Crested Butte, helping feed their mules. Along with the hay, carloads of potatoes and other vegetables from the Gunnison area were being sent to Crested Butte to supply the miners with food and also to support their animals. John Outcalt is also known to be one of the most famous men in the town. He helped build the Paragon School, which is still standing today in the Gunnison Pioneer Society museum on the east end of town. Originally a shipbuilder and carpenter in New Jersey, he incorporated his skills in the building of the school which is why it is still standing today. John was also praised by the local natives; when he first arrived in town he worked as a carpenter on the Los Pinos Indian reservation, and was considered the most trusted White man in the area. This helped in the long run because, according to legend, they saved his life on numerous occasions.

Gunnison residents isolated themselves from the surrounding area during the Spanish Influenza epidemic for two months at the end of 1918. All highways were barricaded near the county lines. Train conductors warned all passengers that if they stepped outside of the train in Gunnison, they would be arrested and quarantined for five days. As a result of the isolation, no one died of influenza in Gunnison during the epidemic.[11][12] This served as partial inspiration for the novel The Last Town on Earth (2006) by Thomas Mullen.

Geography
Welcome to Gunnison sign for travelers on Hwy 50 entering Gunnison from the east.

Gunnison County is situated at an altitude of 7,703 feet (2,348 m).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.16 square miles (10.8 km2). All of it is land and none of it is covered by water. Gunnison is near Blue Mesa Reservoir. Primary access to Gunnison is from Salida to the east via Monarch Pass or from Montrose, Colorado to the west via Cerro Summit on U.S. Highway 50. U.S. Highway 50 is the main east-west thoroughfare through the town. There are numerous other ways to get to Gunnison, some of which are subject to seasonal closures (Kebler Pass, Cottonwood Pass). At the 2010 Census there was a population of 15,324 within the county.

Climate

Gunnison is located at the bottom of several valleys. Due to its location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air in all the valleys settles into Gunnison at night, making it one of the coldest places in winter in the United States, especially when snowpack is present. The average January low is −8 °F (−22 °C), and the average July high is 82 °F (28 °C). The record low is −60 °F (−51 °C), recorded at Blue Mesa Reservoir. The record high is 98 °F (37 °C), set on August 15, 1931.[13]

The city typically experiences moderate snowfalls, with an average of 50 inches (130 cm) per year. Early fall and late spring snows are not uncommon, and snow can remain on the ground in town from as early as November to as late as April. Surrounding mountains experience very heavy snowfall with longer periods of snow on the ground. Many locations average 300–400 inches (760–1,020 cm) of snow annually. The snow is welcome to the area, as it is beneficial to water supplies and local ski resorts. Total liquid precipitation averages nearly 11 inches (280 mm) per year in the city of Gunnison, while surrounding mountains may receive anywhere from 15 to over 40 inches (380 to 1,000 mm) annually, depending upon elevation and local topography.

Under the Köppen climate classification, Gunnison has a humid continental climate (Dfb).

Climate data for Gunnison, Colorado (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 26.6
(−3.0)		 31.9
(−0.1)		 44.2
(6.8)		 56.1
(13.4)		 66.3
(19.1)		 75.6
(24.2)		 80.4
(26.9)		 78.0
(25.6)		 70.8
(21.6)		 59.7
(15.4)		 43.4
(6.3)		 29.2
(−1.6)		 55.2
(12.9)
Average low °F (°C) −6.2
(−21.2)		 1.1
(−17.2)		 14.8
(−9.6)		 22.8
(−5.1)		 30.5
(−0.8)		 36.7
(2.6)		 43.8
(6.6)		 42.6
(5.9)		 33.4
(0.8)		 22.2
(−5.4)		 11.5
(−11.4)		 −1.5
(−18.6)		 21.0
(−6.1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.68
(17)		 0.69
(18)		 0.49
(12)		 0.73
(19)		 0.81
(21)		 0.72
(18)		 1.35
(34)		 1.57
(40)		 1.21
(31)		 0.77
(20)		 0.63
(16)		 0.92
(23)		 10.57
(268)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.5
(24)		 8.8
(22)		 5.8
(15)		 4.1
(10)		 0.7
(1.8)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.1
(2.8)		 5.1
(13)		 10.4
(26)		 45.5
(116)
Source: NOAA[14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880888—
18901,10524.4%
19001,2008.6%
19101,026−14.5%
19201,32929.5%
19301,4156.5%
19402,17753.9%
19502,77027.2%
19603,47725.5%
19704,61332.7%
19805,78525.4%
19904,636−19.9%
20005,40916.7%
20105,8548.2%
Est. 20196,640[5]13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 5,854 people, 2,318 households, and 991 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,829.4 people per square mile (705.3/km2). There were 2,645 total housing units at an average density of 826.6 per square mile (318.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.9% White, 0.6% African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 6.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.2% of the population.

There were 2,318 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.2% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the city, the population breakdown was 26.1% under the age of 19, 23.4% from 20 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 16.8 from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 120.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,181, and the median income for a family was $59,836. Males had a median income of $35,818 versus $28,476 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,776. 18.9% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
View of Tenderfoot Mountain taken from Gunnison in September 2009. The "W" signifies Western Colorado University.

Gunnison is home to Western Colorado University which received its third renaming since its beginnings from an approval of Governor John Wright Hickenlooper on August 1, 2012. The college was founded as The Colorado State Normal School for Children by a bill signed on April 16, 1901 by Governor James B. Orman. In 1923, the college's name was changed to Western State College of Colorado because its role expanded from a teaching institution to a liberal arts college. Historical papers in the Leslie Savage Library on campus state that the school was the first liberal arts college on the Western Slope of Colorado.

The Gunnison Valley is also served by the Gunnison Watershed RE1J School District[17] which includes Public and Non Public schools.[18] The public schools in the RE1J school district are located in Crested Butte and Gunnison; Marble Charter School is located in the Statutory Town of Marble in northwest Gunnison County. Public Schools in Gunnison Watershed RE1J School District:

The law concerning non public schools, 22-33-104, C.R.S., requires that a sequential program of instruction be provided by an independent or parochial school. Such program shall include, but not be limited to, communication skills of reading, writing, and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, and science.[19][20] Some of the non-public schools in Gunnison County adhering to these C.R.S. are:

Media

Gunnison's newspaper, Gunnison Country Times, is published weekly.[21] There are also various radio stations that serve the area, including KWSB-FM (91.1), which is affiliated with Western Colorado University.[22] KBUT of Crested Butte also simulcasts NPR broadcasts at 90.3 FM.[23]

In film

The 1902 silent film short The Girls in the Overalls directed by Harry Buckwalter is set on the Vidal Ranch in Gunnison.[24]

Gunnison County is the setting of the science fiction film Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, although the film was actually shot in the towns of Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, British Columbia.[25][26]

On television

Gunnison is the setting of the 1960–1961 syndicated western television series Two Faces West.

Gunnison is the birthplace of the American actress Donna Anderson, a supporting cast member of the ABC western series, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963–1964).

Gunnison is the setting for Season 11, Episode 19 of the CW series Supernatural entitled "The Chitters".

In literature

In 2009, Gunnison appeared as a launch site and mission control facility in Stephen Baxter's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Ark.

Gunnison is the setting for Eternal Starling, the first book in the Emblem of Eternity trilogy by Angela Corbett.

Transportation
Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport

The Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport serves the valley and nearby Crested Butte with both commercial airline and general aviation flights. Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) operates bus service between Gunnison and Crested Butte serving Western Colorado University and Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Gunnison is part of the statewide Bustang system, which connects the town to Denver.[27]

The League of American Bicyclists has awarded Gunnison the silver level in bicycle friendliness.

Activities

Winter

Winter activities for Gunnison include skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, skiing at Monarch Ski Area, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, back country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, hunting, and snowshoeing.

Summer

Activities during the summer in Gunnison include fishing on the Gunnison River, Tomichi Creek and Blue Mesa Reservoir. Hiking in any of the numerous areas within a short distance of town like Curecanti National Recreation Area, Tomichi State Wildlife Area, Sapinero State Wildlife Area, McIntosh State Wildlife Area. Biking activities include road biking and mountain biking; Hartman's Rock has many bike trails for mountain biking as well as motorcross and rock climbing. One rafting practice is to rent a raft in Almont and drift 10 miles (16 km) down the Gunnison River to the town of Gunnison. Below the Hwy 50 bridge on the Gunnison river is the kayak park. The Gunnison Ranger District Office located at 216 North Colorado Street offers maps and information about details particular to vehicle access, private, BLM, federal and state properties, trails, and other areas of interest.[28][29][30]

Gunnison also hosts festivals and farmers markets during the summer months.

Cattlemen's Days

A rodeo in Colorado takes place over a 10-day period in July featuring PRCA Rodeo activities as well as family-based activities. Cattlemen’s Days celebrated its 112th year of rich western heritage in a first class and nationally recognized rodeo event for the year 2012.[31] In 2011, this rodeo was nominated as one of the five finalists for Mid-sized rodeo of the year. It continues to be a leader in PCRA rodeos in fund-raising for breast cancer with their Tough enough to wear pink campaign.[32] Cattlemen's Days also offers scholarships to support and further the education of 4-H and FFA exhibitors.[33]

Notable people
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See also

References
  1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. 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. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "City of Gunnison". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2007.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Gunnison city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  9. "History of Gunnison". Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  10. Retrieved July 01, 2012, Home rule charter Archived 2012-07-28 at the Wayback Machine, http://www.mountainlawfirm.com/contact-us/
  11. H. Markel, A.M. Stern, J. A. Navarro, J. R. Michalsen, A. S. Monto, and C. DiGiovanni, "Nonpharmaceutical Influenza Mitigation Strategies, US Communities, 1918–1920 Pandemic," Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 12, No. 12, December 2006.
  12. Carroll, Rory (1 March 2020). "Gunnison, Colorado: the town that dodged the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. "GUNNISON 1 N, COLORADO Period of Record General Climate Summary – Temperature". Western Regional Climate Center. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  14. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. Retrieved July 01, 2012, List of School Districts by size Archived 2012-05-12 at the Wayback Machine, Colorado Department of Education Website
  18. Retrieved July 01, 2012, Legal Requirements for Non Public Schools, Colorado Department of Education Website
  19. Minimum standards which apply to non-public schools under state law include compulsory attendance, health standards, local building codes, zoning requirements, and fire safety standards.
  20. retrieved July 01,2012,Neither the State Board of Education nor any local board of education has jurisdiction over the internal affairs of any non-state independent or parochial school in Colorado.
  21. Newspaper homepage GunnisonTimes.com. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  22. KWSB website KWSB.org. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  23. KBUT website KBUT.org. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  24. "The Girls in the Overalls (1904)". The American Film Institute. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  25. "Alien vs. Predator Sequel's R-rated Secrets Revealed". MTV.com. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  26. "Oh, the places she's been". The Block. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  27. Aguilar, John (June 28, 2018). "Bustang to launch new long-haul bus service this weekend between Grand Junction, Durango". The Denver Post.
  28. Gunnison Field Office Archived 2012-07-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 09, 2012
  29. Information in this section has been extracted from the Forest Service Series Map Gunnison Basin Public Lands 2008 – ISBN 159351132-9
  30. Another good map depicting seasonal designation table (road use) is the Motor Vehicle Travel Map – Gunnison Basin Public Lands – Colorado 2011, published by United States Department of Interior and United States Department of Agriculture
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-07-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) From the President, Brett Redden – Retrieved July 31, 2012
  32. Rodeo calendar for the tough enough to wear pink campaign Archived 2012-06-01 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 09, 2012.
  33. Cattlemen’s Days Scholarships – Retrieved July 31, 2012 Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  34. "Donna Anderson (I)". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  35. Torres, Aaron (2015-07-03). "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CHASING DOWN... SUSAN DEMATTEI". USA Cycling. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  36. Price, Rick (Winter 2018). "Nordic ski racer Rebecca Dussault". Sandpoint Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  37. "Olympic Athletes and Coaches from Western".
  38. "Patricia Elliott (I)". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  39. "Dan Gibbs' Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  40. "Hogg, Herschel Millard, (1853–1934)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  41. Hanley, Charles J. (2017-05-12). "Sally Jacobsen, AP's first female international editor, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  42. "Mountain Lions". Smithsonian American Art Museum – Renwich Gallery. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  43. "Aaron Simpson". UFC. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
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