Idalia, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Idalia is a census-designated place
and a U.S. Post Office
in Yuma County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population as of the 2010 Census
was 88.
The Idalia Post Office has the ZIP code
80735.
approximately two miles west of U.S. Route 385.
There is one school, which teaches preschool through twelfth grade. The school mascot is the wolf. The town also has a preschool and daycare
Daze). The event, coined Idalia Days, takes place each summer if enough interest is provided. During its inaugural celebration, Idalia Days provided activities and events in which the community could partake. Drawing on themes used in previous town celebrations, events include bed races, an old-time baseball game, old man six-man football, a melodrama illustrating the history of the towns relocation, and a fire hall dance. Fun is had by all.
, a variation of football involving six players on each side off the ball rather than the traditional eleven. To this end, Idalia has had an extremely successful program over the last decade and has become a staple program in Colorado Classification A 6-Man Football. The team won eight state titles between 1998 and 2010.
In contrast to this offense is the style of game present in Idalia football. While Idalia had the luxury in the early 2000s of having rosters occasionally exceeding 30 players, Idalia has for the most part had roster ranging from 12 to 17 players. Yet, rather than submit to the "Spread" offense, Idalia has chosen rather to attack opposing defenses with what might be more recognizable to conventional football gurus as an "I-Formation" attack. With the two ends brought in tight on either side of the center, the quarterback takes the snap with both back directly behind him in the typical "I" formation. Idalia has had a great deal of success utilizing this offensive strategy that has variations more like traditional 11-man formations with split receivers, one-back formations, etc. Similarly, this style of offense utilizes offensive schemes also common in the 11-man game: pulling linemen, trap plays, draws, screens, motion sweeps, etc. Rather than rely on the athletic ability of one player to torment the defense with his speed, quickness, and throwing ability—the tight formation emphasizes more team qualities of 11-man football. As a result of Idalia's dominance and success over the past decade, the tight formation has begun to spread throughout the Colorado ranks as teams hope to emulate Idalia's success.
This success has become rather storied. Since 1997, Idalia has made the playoffs 14 consecutive years. Over that span, Idalia has made the title game 11 times, winning the Colorado Class A 6-Man Championship in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010.
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...
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 Yuma County
Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County is the 14th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,841 at U.S. Census 2000...
, 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 as of 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...
was 88.
The Idalia 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...
80735.
Geography
Idalia is located at 39°42′15"N 102°17′35"W (39.704281,-102.293186), along U.S. Route 36U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 36 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to Uhrichsville, Ohio. The highway's western terminus is at Deer Ridge Junction, an intersection in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, where it meets U.S. Route 34. Its eastern...
approximately two miles west of U.S. Route 385.
Community
Idalia was founded in the late 19th century. The founders were primarily of German descent. While the population of the town is around 75, the surrounding community, almost purely of an agricultural base, is around 200.There is one school, which teaches preschool through twelfth grade. The school mascot is the wolf. The town also has a preschool and daycare
Establishments
Idalia has a 24-hour self-serve gas station as well as a small motel. There are two restaurants which serve the surrounding community as well as travelers on Highway 36. As such, the name of the town bar & grill is Route 36. There is also a small cafe open during the day, the Prairie Vista. Idalia has a grain elevator that is operated in conjunction with the Outback Fuel and Feed gas station. There are other small businesses in town, including a hair cut salon, Pick N'Roll, as well as "T&G Tanning" owned by Tyson. There is also a family grocery store: Carpenter's Mini-Mall. Possibly the most influential town institution has been the Idalia Visions Foundation, Inc. which sponsors student college scholarship donations as well as the primary source of fund-raising and planning for a new gymnasium which was constructed in 1995.Idalia Days Celebration
Community members headed a project aimed at emulating the summer annual town celebrations of neighboring towns (i.e., WrayWray, Colorado
The City of Wray is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Yuma County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,187 at the U.S. Census 2000. The school mascot is the Eagles for high school and Eaglets in the lower grades. School colors are purple and white and the Eaglets are...
Daze). The event, coined Idalia Days, takes place each summer if enough interest is provided. During its inaugural celebration, Idalia Days provided activities and events in which the community could partake. Drawing on themes used in previous town celebrations, events include bed races, an old-time baseball game, old man six-man football, a melodrama illustrating the history of the towns relocation, and a fire hall dance. Fun is had by all.
Idalia High School Football
Due to low enrollment of the high school, Idalia, like hundreds of schools throughout Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Texas, plays six-man footballSix-man football
Six-man football is a variant of American football that is played with six players per team, instead of 11.-History:6-man football was developed in 1934 by Chester High School coach Stephen Epler as an alternative means for small high schools to field a football team during the Great Depression...
, a variation of football involving six players on each side off the ball rather than the traditional eleven. To this end, Idalia has had an extremely successful program over the last decade and has become a staple program in Colorado Classification A 6-Man Football. The team won eight state titles between 1998 and 2010.
Strategy and Success
Due to limited enrollment numbers, small Colorado schools often struggle to assemble enough players for even a viable six-man football team. Oftentimes, in Colorado 6-man football, small schools will rely on the talent and speed of one of two players to propel their team due to relative limitations on talent due simply to lack of numbers in some of these schools—that in some cases have high school enrollments barely exceeding 20 students. As such, many of these schools have chosen to take advantage of the open space available on the field to isolate their playmakers and enable them to attack defenses in a more one-on-one fashion. This offensive approach is commonly known as the "Spread" offense. Although variations of this offense exist, the most basic formation is to line the two ends split out wide opposite of each other with the center over the ball. The quarterback will be in the backfield with both running backs to his left and right. The snap will go directly to a back, who will then exchange the ball to the quarterback, giving him the run/pass option. The play proceeds from here with the quarterback being able to pass to any of his five teammates as well as run. An extremely difficult offensive strategy to defend, the spread offense takes advantage of one player's ability to make opposing defenders miss in the open field as well as allows the player assuming the quarterback role to use his athleticism to throw the ball while on the run.In contrast to this offense is the style of game present in Idalia football. While Idalia had the luxury in the early 2000s of having rosters occasionally exceeding 30 players, Idalia has for the most part had roster ranging from 12 to 17 players. Yet, rather than submit to the "Spread" offense, Idalia has chosen rather to attack opposing defenses with what might be more recognizable to conventional football gurus as an "I-Formation" attack. With the two ends brought in tight on either side of the center, the quarterback takes the snap with both back directly behind him in the typical "I" formation. Idalia has had a great deal of success utilizing this offensive strategy that has variations more like traditional 11-man formations with split receivers, one-back formations, etc. Similarly, this style of offense utilizes offensive schemes also common in the 11-man game: pulling linemen, trap plays, draws, screens, motion sweeps, etc. Rather than rely on the athletic ability of one player to torment the defense with his speed, quickness, and throwing ability—the tight formation emphasizes more team qualities of 11-man football. As a result of Idalia's dominance and success over the past decade, the tight formation has begun to spread throughout the Colorado ranks as teams hope to emulate Idalia's success.
This success has become rather storied. Since 1997, Idalia has made the playoffs 14 consecutive years. Over that span, Idalia has made the title game 11 times, winning the Colorado Class A 6-Man Championship in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010.