Salida, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat
and most populous city of Chaffee County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.
. After World War II
the railroad began pulling back its operations in Salida. Many residents in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s worked either in local ranching operations or commuted north to Leadville
to work at the Climax Molybdenum Company
. Today the most prominent business in Salida is tourism, consisting of skiing
at Monarch ski area
, whitewater rafting, kayaking
and outfitting, particularly on the Arkansas River
. Salida is home to the annual FIBArk
kayak race, one of the oldest whitewater races in North America.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land, and the Arkansas River
, which runs through the town, is the major source of water.
The Sawatch Range
runs north and south and is located roughly 30 miles west of Salida. Methodist Mountain
, which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
. To the north of Salida is the Arkansas Valley and Buena Vista, Colorado
.
of 2000, there were 5,504 people, 2,504 households, and 1,449 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,480.1 people per square mile (957.3/km²). There were 2,748 housing units at an average density of 1,238.3 per square mile (477.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.66% White, 0.05% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races
, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.76% of the population.
There were 2,504 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,790, and the median income for a family was $38,240. Males had a median income of $30,447 versus $20,867 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,252. About 9.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
and most populous city of Chaffee County
Chaffee County, Colorado
Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 16,242 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Salida.-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 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.
History
Founded in 1880, Salida was originally a railroad town and was a significant link in the Denver and Rio Grande Western RailroadDenver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the railroad began pulling back its operations in Salida. Many residents in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s worked either in local ranching operations or commuted north to Leadville
Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
to work at the Climax Molybdenum Company
Climax, Colorado
Climax was an unincorporated mining village and a former U.S. Post Office located in Lake County, Colorado. Climax was known for its large molybdenum ore deposit. The former Climax Post Office had the ZIP Code 80429. Climax is located along the Continental Divide at an elevation of about 11,360 feet...
. Today the most prominent business in Salida is tourism, consisting of skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
at Monarch ski area
Monarch Ski Area
Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area is located on U.S. Highway 50. It is twenty miles west of Salida, Colorado, on Monarch Pass and has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and a newly-opened Extreme-Terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles east of the ski area in the...
, whitewater rafting, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
and outfitting, particularly on the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
. Salida is home to the annual FIBArk
FIBArk
-Overview:FIBArk stands for "First in Boating the Arkansas" -- it's a festival that started in the 1950s. The history actually began in 1949 when two friends bet each other who'd win a race from Salida, CO to Cañon City, CO on the Arkansas River...
kayak race, one of the oldest whitewater races in North America.
Geography
Salida is located at 38°31′53"N 105°59′46"W (38.531442, -105.996090).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 city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land, and the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, which runs through the town, is the major source of water.
The Sawatch Range
Sawatch Range
The Sawatch Range is a mountain range in central Colorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies....
runs north and south and is located roughly 30 miles west of Salida. Methodist Mountain
Methodist Mountain
Methodist Mountain is an peak roughly 6 miles south of the City of Salida, Colorado. The summit straddles the Chaffee County / Saguache County line...
, which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. They are located in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States...
. To the north of Salida is the Arkansas Valley and Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,195 at the 2000 census.Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of . The area between Buena Vista and...
.
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 5,504 people, 2,504 households, and 1,449 families residing in the city. 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 2,480.1 people per square mile (957.3/km²). There were 2,748 housing units at an average density of 1,238.3 per square mile (477.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.66% White, 0.05% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.29% 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 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.76% of the population.
There were 2,504 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,790, and the median income for a family was $38,240. Males had a median income of $30,447 versus $20,867 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 city was $17,252. About 9.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The city is served by Salida Public Schools. There is one public high school, Salida High SchoolSalida High School
Salida High School ' is the public high school of the city of Salida, Colorado. Its colors are purple, black and white, and its mascot is the Spartan.The enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year was 402...
.
Notable natives
- Kent HarufKent HarufKent Haruf is an award-winning American novelist.-Life:Haruf was born in Pueblo, Colorado, the son of a Methodist minister...
- Novelist - Sally BlaneSally BlaneSally Blane was an American actress. Blane was the sister of actresses Polly Ann and Loretta Young, and half-sister to actress Georgiana Young, the wife of actor Ricardo Montalban...
- Actress - Leslie WhiteLeslie WhiteLeslie Alvin White was an American anthropologist known for his advocacy of theories of cultural evolution, sociocultural evolution, and especially neoevolutionism, and for his role in creating the department of anthropology at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor...
- Anthropologist - Brian Joseph Rill - Musician
- Jesse Angelo - Radio Personality/Producer
- Chris GuccioneChris Guccione (umpire)Christopher Gene Guccione is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He wears number 68.Guccione has umpired in both the American League and National League since , although he was not officially promoted to the full-time Major League staff until before the 2009 season Guccione has 14 total years of...
- Major League BaseballMajor 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...
umpire