Fort Garland, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Fort Garland is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Costilla County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 433 at the 2010 census
. The Fort Garland Post Office has the ZIP Code
81133.
", as it is the first town you encounter once you have traveled West over La Veta Pass from the Colorado Front Range. Fort Garland is home to many artists, painters, crafters and internationally known musicians.
Although unincorporated, Fort Garland has a business district with 2 motels, several restaurants, the Old Fort Market grocery store, the Fort Garland Museum, 2 gas stations, a car wash, hair salon, campgrounds, hardware store, liquor store, and multiple shops featuring collectibles & antiquities as well as a Wild West show.
The Annual Fort Garland Band Jam Music Festival features not only local and regional musicians, but also nationally and internationally recognized musical talent. This summer event, usually held in mid-July, includes an Open Air Market, local food venders offering up traditional and regional cuisine, a Beer Garden, and children's activities and of course, some of the finest, varied music - from traditional Spanish Guitar to R&B to Rock and Roll.
The Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center is open to residents and the public on daily, monthly or annual fees.
The Entrada Visitor's Center offers information on local and regional points of interest, such as the Great Sand Dunes, Colorado 'Gator farm, UFO Watchtower
and other activities located within the San Luis Valley
.
Fort Garland is also the cross roads of Hwy 160 and Hwy 159, a popular route for those travelers going Southbound to Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
, then part of the New Mexico Territory
. The fort was abandoned in 1883, following the confinement of the Utes
to reservations. The Fort Garland Museum preserves some of the historic buildings from the Fort.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 432 people, 152 households, and 120 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,514.5 people per square mile (575.2/km²). There were 164 housing units at an average density of 574.9 per square mile (218.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 53.01% White, 0.69% African American, 2.31% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.93% Pacific Islander, 36.81% from other races
, and 5.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 72.22% of the population.
There were 152 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples
living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $18,929, and the median income for a family was $25,833. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $9,470. About 23.4% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 28.9% of those age 65 or over.
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) in Costilla County
Costilla County, Colorado
Costilla County is the ninth least populous of the 64 counties in the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 3,663 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado.- History :...
, 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...
. The population was 433 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 Fort Garland 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...
81133.
General Information
The Town of Fort Garland, a small rural community, rich in history, is referred to as the "Gateway to the San Luis ValleySan Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is an extensive alpine valley in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico covering approximately and sitting at an average elevation of above sea level. The valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande River, which rises in the San Juan...
", as it is the first town you encounter once you have traveled West over La Veta Pass from the Colorado Front Range. Fort Garland is home to many artists, painters, crafters and internationally known musicians.
Although unincorporated, Fort Garland has a business district with 2 motels, several restaurants, the Old Fort Market grocery store, the Fort Garland Museum, 2 gas stations, a car wash, hair salon, campgrounds, hardware store, liquor store, and multiple shops featuring collectibles & antiquities as well as a Wild West show.
The Annual Fort Garland Band Jam Music Festival features not only local and regional musicians, but also nationally and internationally recognized musical talent. This summer event, usually held in mid-July, includes an Open Air Market, local food venders offering up traditional and regional cuisine, a Beer Garden, and children's activities and of course, some of the finest, varied music - from traditional Spanish Guitar to R&B to Rock and Roll.
The Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center is open to residents and the public on daily, monthly or annual fees.
The Entrada Visitor's Center offers information on local and regional points of interest, such as the Great Sand Dunes, Colorado 'Gator farm, UFO Watchtower
UFO Watchtower
The UFO Watchtower is an observation platform, campground, and gift shop north of Hooper, Colorado. The watchtower, which has a 360-degree view of the San Luis Valley, was created by Judy Messoline in May 2000 to capitalize on the existing use of the property by UFO observers.There have been TV...
and other activities located within the San Luis Valley
San Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is an extensive alpine valley in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico covering approximately and sitting at an average elevation of above sea level. The valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande River, which rises in the San Juan...
.
Fort Garland is also the cross roads of Hwy 160 and Hwy 159, a popular route for those travelers going Southbound to Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
History
Fort Garland was established in 1858 to protect settlers in the San Luis ValleySan Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is an extensive alpine valley in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico covering approximately and sitting at an average elevation of above sea level. The valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande River, which rises in the San Juan...
, then part of the New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
. The fort was abandoned in 1883, following the confinement of the Utes
Ute Tribe
The Ute are an American Indian people now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. There are three Ute tribal reservations: Uintah-Ouray in northeastern Utah ; Southern Ute in Colorado ; and Ute Mountain which primarily lies in Colorado, but extends to Utah and New Mexico . The name of the state of...
to reservations. The Fort Garland Museum preserves some of the historic buildings from the Fort.
Geography
Fort Garland is located at 37.429477°N 105.435280°W.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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
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 432 people, 152 households, and 120 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 1,514.5 people per square mile (575.2/km²). There were 164 housing units at an average density of 574.9 per square mile (218.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 53.01% White, 0.69% African American, 2.31% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.93% Pacific Islander, 36.81% 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 5.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 72.22% of the population.
There were 152 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% 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, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $18,929, and the median income for a family was $25,833. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $18,750 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 $9,470. About 23.4% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 28.9% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Fort Garland at Sangres.com
- Fort Garland Museum at Colorado Historical Society
- Trinchera Peak at SummitPost
- Official Fort Garland Website
- Fort Garland Music Festival