Evergreen, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Evergreen is a census-designated place
(CDP) and a U.S. Post Office
in Jefferson County
, Colorado
, United States
. Evergreen is roughly 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census
. The Evergreen Post Office has the ZIP Code
s 80437 and 80439.
. Subsequent settlers homesteaded south of Bergen along Bear Creek Canyon and the downtown area grew around the confluence of Cub Creek and Bear Creek. Fellow homesteader Dwight P. Wilmot is credited with naming the area "Evergreen"; his home has been preserved and still functions as a private residence across the street from his namesake Wilmot Elementary School.
The town grew on the lumber demand for buildings in Denver and by the 1880s, the town could boast a population of 200 people and six operating sawmills. Improvement of the road from Denver up Bear Creek Canyon in 1911 and electrical service reaching the town in 1917 spurred further growth and the town became a popular summer destination for Denver residents. Resorts like Troutdale-in-the-Pines, Greystone Guest Ranch and the Brook Forest Inn opened and entertained Denverites and celebrities including film stars of the day and Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Theodore Roosevelt
, who both vacationed at the Troutdale. In the 1950s, improved utilities in town and the rising popularity of automobiles began to entice more future residents to stay year-round and the town became known as a commuter community.
, 15 miles west of Denver, Colorado.
Evergreen is located at 39°38′20"N 105°20′11"W (39.638905, -105.336318).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.
Evergreen is surrounded by thousands of acres of land in the Denver Mountain Parks
and Jefferson County Open Space park systems. The Denver Mountain Parks in the area are Bergen Park
, Corwina Park, Dedisse Park
, Dillon Park, Fillius Park, O'Fallon Park
and Pence Park in Indian Hills. The Jefferson County Open Space Parks are Alderfer/Three Sisters, Elk Meadow, Lair o' the Bear, and Mount Falcon Park in Indian Hills. Hiwan Golf Club
is a country club located just east of Bergen Park
and provides as Evergreen's only country club. Popular both in the summer and the winter, Evergreen lake and its "Lake House" are recreational focal points for the area.
and County Highway 73. Highway 74 runs south from Interstate 70 through Bergen Park and northern Evergreen to downtown, then turns east and follows Bear Creek Canyon to its end at State Highway 8 near Red Rocks Park. Highway 73 runs south from downtown Evergreen to connect with U.S. Route 285
in Conifer.
Bus service in Evergreen is offered by Denver Regional Transportation District
. TheRide
regional routes E and Z run to downtown Denver and there is call-n-Ride curb-to-curb transportation service in town.
of 2000, there were 9,216 people, 3,591 households, and 2,689 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 795.7 people per square mile (307.3/km²). There were 3,840 housing units at an average density of 331.5 per square mile (128.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.35% White, 0.26% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 3,591 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $79,380, and the median income for a family was $88,589. Males had a median income of $62,917 versus $37,392 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $36,654. About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Evergreen Lake, a popular recreation area, was created by damming Bear Creek in 1927. It sits above downtown Evergreen, which includes a mix of historic buildings and local businesses, including the well-known entertainment venue and restaurant The Little Bear.
In the winter, skiing and snowboarding is available at nearby Echo Mountain Park
and ice skating is offered at Evergreen Lake. The skating season usually runs from mid December to late March depending upon ice thickness and weather. Meanwhile, the ski season at new Echo Mountain Park lasts often from late November to early May, again depending on weather. Echo Mountain Park borders Evergreen, making it a quasi-ski town only 20 minutes west of Denver.
Predicated on the low humidity it is common to see residents walk around in their short sleeve shirts in the middle of winter, and predicated on the high altitude there is little need of screens in the summer, due to a lack of flies. In early spring hundreds of elk descend down to residents homes where they feed unbothered by their human neighbors. Two risks associated with living in Evergreen are the occasional mountain lion that poses a risk to humans and pets and driving, which can be quite treacherous.
Registered Historic Places in Evergreen include:
catchment area, while parts of southern Evergreen fall into the area for Conifer High School
. Residents west of the Clear Creek County line are served by Clear Creek Schools with students attending King-Murphy Elementary (ranked in the top 1% of elementary schools in Colorado), Clear Creek Middle School, and Clear Creek High School.
Private schools in Evergreen include Evergreen Academy, Evergreen Country Day School, Grace Christian School and Montessori School Of Evergreen.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and a U.S. Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Evergreen is roughly 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. The Evergreen Post Office has the ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s 80437 and 80439.
History
Homesteader Thomas Bergen arrived in 1859, establishing a ranch and stage stop north of present-day downtown Evergreen. Bergen's Ranch was recognized as a settled area at the establishment of Jefferson County, Jefferson TerritoryJefferson County, Jefferson Territory
Jefferson County was a county of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson that existed from November 28, 1859, until February 28, 1861. Its territory covered a broad swath surrounding the region of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, and was a functioning democratically elected government until...
. Subsequent settlers homesteaded south of Bergen along Bear Creek Canyon and the downtown area grew around the confluence of Cub Creek and Bear Creek. Fellow homesteader Dwight P. Wilmot is credited with naming the area "Evergreen"; his home has been preserved and still functions as a private residence across the street from his namesake Wilmot Elementary School.
The town grew on the lumber demand for buildings in Denver and by the 1880s, the town could boast a population of 200 people and six operating sawmills. Improvement of the road from Denver up Bear Creek Canyon in 1911 and electrical service reaching the town in 1917 spurred further growth and the town became a popular summer destination for Denver residents. Resorts like Troutdale-in-the-Pines, Greystone Guest Ranch and the Brook Forest Inn opened and entertained Denverites and celebrities including film stars of the day and Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, who both vacationed at the Troutdale. In the 1950s, improved utilities in town and the rising popularity of automobiles began to entice more future residents to stay year-round and the town became known as a commuter community.
Law and government
Since Evergreen is an unincorporated area, services usually provided by a city's government are provided by multiple agencies. The county maintains the roads (less State Highway 74), oversees planning and zoning, provides primary and secondary education through its school district and provides law enforcement through its sheriff's office. Evergreen Fire/Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical response service. Water and sewer services operate under the administration of the Evergreen Metropolitan District.Geography
Evergreen sits at an elevation of 7220 feet (2,200.7 m) in the Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, 15 miles west of Denver, Colorado.
Evergreen is located at 39°38′20"N 105°20′11"W (39.638905, -105.336318).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.
Major Parks
Denver Mountain Parks
The Denver Mountain Parks system contains more than 14,000 acres of parklands in the mountains and foothills of Jefferson, Clear Creek, Douglas,and Grand counties in Colorado, west and south of Denver....
and Jefferson County Open Space park systems. The Denver Mountain Parks in the area are Bergen Park
Bergen Park
Bergen Park is a park near Evergreen, Colorado and is on the National Register of Historic Places.-External links:*...
, Corwina Park, Dedisse Park
Dedisse Park
Dedisse Park is a Denver Mountain Park located in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA. It was originally the scenic mountain ranch of 1860s pioneer Julius C. Dedisse; this of land was purchased by the City & County of Denver in 1919...
, Dillon Park, Fillius Park, O'Fallon Park
O'Fallon Park
O'Fallon Park is a municipal park in St. Louis, Missouri, that opened in 1908.-Geography:O'Fallon Park is located near the riverfront. On the north, it is bordered by Interstate 70; on the southwest, by W. Florissant Ave. The southeastern border follows E. Harris Ave., Algernon St., and Adelaide...
and Pence Park in Indian Hills. The Jefferson County Open Space Parks are Alderfer/Three Sisters, Elk Meadow, Lair o' the Bear, and Mount Falcon Park in Indian Hills. Hiwan Golf Club
Hiwan Golf Club
Hiwan Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course located in Evergreen, Colorado.The golf course is 7,097 yards from the back tees and is a par 70. The fairways are lined with ponderosa pines and Douglas firs and magnificent Bergen Peak provides an elegant background for nearly every hole. The greens at...
is a country club located just east of Bergen Park
Bergen Park
Bergen Park is a park near Evergreen, Colorado and is on the National Register of Historic Places.-External links:*...
and provides as Evergreen's only country club. Popular both in the summer and the winter, Evergreen lake and its "Lake House" are recreational focal points for the area.
Transportation
The two major roads in Evergreen are State Highway 74Colorado State Highway 74
State Highway 74 is an state highway in the U.S. state of Colorado. Running from Interstate 70 to SH 8, the highway forms a rough curve running northwest-southeast. The section of the route north of the town of Evergreen is known as Evergreen Parkway and is a wider segment than that east of...
and County Highway 73. Highway 74 runs south from Interstate 70 through Bergen Park and northern Evergreen to downtown, then turns east and follows Bear Creek Canyon to its end at State Highway 8 near Red Rocks Park. Highway 73 runs south from downtown Evergreen to connect with U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
in Conifer.
Bus service in Evergreen is offered by Denver Regional Transportation District
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, or RTD, was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area in Colorado. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of...
. TheRide
TheRide
RTD Bus & Light Rail is a transit system in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. It is operated by the Regional Transportation District . It currently operates 101 local, 13 limited, 24 express, 16 regional, and 6 skyRide bus routes...
regional routes E and Z run to downtown Denver and there is call-n-Ride curb-to-curb transportation service in town.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,216 people, 3,591 households, and 2,689 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 795.7 people per square mile (307.3/km²). There were 3,840 housing units at an average density of 331.5 per square mile (128.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.35% White, 0.26% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 3,591 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $79,380, and the median income for a family was $88,589. Males had a median income of $62,917 versus $37,392 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $36,654. About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
In the winter, skiing and snowboarding is available at nearby Echo Mountain Park
Echo Mountain Park
Echo Mountain is a ski and snowboard area located in Clear Creek County, west of Evergreen, Colorado. As of the 2008–2009 season, it claims to be the “Denver's Closest, Cheapest and Freshest Ski and Ride Area.”-Description:...
and ice skating is offered at Evergreen Lake. The skating season usually runs from mid December to late March depending upon ice thickness and weather. Meanwhile, the ski season at new Echo Mountain Park lasts often from late November to early May, again depending on weather. Echo Mountain Park borders Evergreen, making it a quasi-ski town only 20 minutes west of Denver.
Predicated on the low humidity it is common to see residents walk around in their short sleeve shirts in the middle of winter, and predicated on the high altitude there is little need of screens in the summer, due to a lack of flies. In early spring hundreds of elk descend down to residents homes where they feed unbothered by their human neighbors. Two risks associated with living in Evergreen are the occasional mountain lion that poses a risk to humans and pets and driving, which can be quite treacherous.
Registered Historic Places in Evergreen include:
- Bergen Park
- Dedisse ParkDedisse ParkDedisse Park is a Denver Mountain Park located in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA. It was originally the scenic mountain ranch of 1860s pioneer Julius C. Dedisse; this of land was purchased by the City & County of Denver in 1919...
- Evergreen Conference District
- Everhardt Ranch
- Fillius Park
- Hiwan Homestead
- Humphrey House
- O'Fallon Park
- Pence Park
Education
Areas of Evergreen lying within Jefferson County are served by Jefferson County Schools. Most students live within the Evergreen High SchoolEvergreen High School (Evergreen, Colorado)
Evergreen High School is a public secondary institution in the JEFFCO Public Schools district in Evergreen, Colorado, U.S. Until Conifer High School opened in 1996, it served students in both Evergreen and Conifer...
catchment area, while parts of southern Evergreen fall into the area for Conifer High School
Conifer High School
Conifer High School is a secondary school in Conifer, a Unincorpirated town located in the foothills of Jefferson County, southwest of Denver, Colorado. The school is located about 20 minutes southwest of SH 470 and a short distance north of U.S...
. Residents west of the Clear Creek County line are served by Clear Creek Schools with students attending King-Murphy Elementary (ranked in the top 1% of elementary schools in Colorado), Clear Creek Middle School, and Clear Creek High School.
Private schools in Evergreen include Evergreen Academy, Evergreen Country Day School, Grace Christian School and Montessori School Of Evergreen.
Notable residents
- South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
co-creator Trey ParkerTrey ParkerTrey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
graduated from Evergreen High School in 1988. Much of the early show is based on Parker's experiences living in nearby Conifer and going to school in Evergreen. - Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
Jeffrey AshbyJeffrey AshbyJeffrey Shears "Bones" Ashby is an engineer, former American naval aviator and astronaut, a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy...
graduated from Evergreen High School in 1972. - CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
star Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
owned a ranch in Evergreen for several years. - MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Kevin KouzmanoffKevin KouzmanoffKevin Kouzmanoff is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.Kouzmanoff had trouble with various sports in high school. He got special help for batting practice, just to learn how to swing a bat for three years, implementing a swing...
grew up in Evergreen and graduated from Evergreen High School in 1999. - Diane Mott DavidsonDiane Mott DavidsonDiane Mott Davidson, born , is an American author of mystery novels that use the theme of food. Several recipes are included in each book, and each novel title is a play on a food or drink word....
, Anthony award-winning and New York Times best-selling author - Joanne GreenbergJoanne GreenbergJoanne Greenberg is an American author best known for the bestselling novel, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden written under the pen name of Hannah Green...
, author of I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, currently resides in Evergreen. - Jasmine CresswellJasmine CresswellJasmine Rosemary Cresswell is a best-selling author of over 50 romance novels as Jasmine Cresswell and Jasmine Craig.-Biography:...
, Noted romance novelist summers in Evergreen. - Levi BrackmanLevi BrackmanLevi Brackman is a Judaic scholar, rabbi, teacher, writer, and religious leader who has been active in both England and the United States, and whose writings are featured regularly in publications internationally, including in Yedioth Ahronoth and The Guardian.-Upbringing and education:A native of...
, author, rabbi and noted Jewish writer and thinker leads a Jewish community in Evergreen. - John Hinckley, Jr.John Hinckley, Jr.John Warnock Hinckley, Jr., attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981, as the culmination of an effort to impress teen actress Jodie Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and has remained under institutional psychiatric care since...
, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan, lived for a time in Evergreen. - Berkley Breathed, noted author.
- Gary HartGary HartGary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...
, former U.S. senator. - Scott HamiltonScott HamiltonScott Hamilton may refer to:*Scott Hamilton *Scott Hamilton *Scott Hamilton...
, Olympic medalist.