Calhan, Colorado | |
|---|---|
| Town of Calhan | |
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| Motto: "Highest Incorporated Non-Mountain Town in the U.S." | |
 Location of the Town of Calhan inEl Paso County, Colorado | |
  Calhan Location of the Town of Calhan, Colorado. Show map of the United States Calhan Calhan (Colorado) Show map of Colorado | |
| Coordinates:39°02′08″N104°17′50″W / 39.0355°N 104.2972°W /39.0355; -104.2972 (Calhan, Colorado)[3] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso[2] |
| Incorporated | May 10, 1919[4] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory town[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.828 sq mi (2.144 km2) |
| • Land | 0.828 sq mi (2.144 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,536 ft (1,992 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 762 |
| • Density | 921/sq mi (356/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP code[6] | 80808 |
| Area code | 719 |
| GNIS pop ID | 193304 |
| GNIS town ID | 2413149 |
| FIPS code | 08-11260 |
| Major Highways |  |
| Website | www |
TheTown of Calhan is astatutory town located inEl Paso County, Colorado, United States.[1] The town population was 762 at the2020 United States census.[5] Calhan is a part of theColorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and theFront Range Urban Corridor. The town straddlesU.S. Highway 24. With Calhan sitting at an elevation of 6,535 feet (1,992 meters) above sea level, Calhan is the highest non-mountain town in the United States.[7]
Calhan was established in 1888 as a water station for the now-defunctChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, with the firststeam locomotive arriving on November 5, 1888. The town was named by and for Michael Calahan, who had the contract to lay railroad tracks from theColorado/Kansas border toColorado Springs. However, when the town's firstU.S. Post Office opened on November 24, 1888, the middle "a" had been dropped and the town was registered as "Calhan."[8] The town was incorporated as astatutory town in 1919. The town grew quickly, but it was not until 1906 that theCalhan Rock Island Railroad Depot was built to meet the growing needs of the area.
Jesse N. Funk was a rancher in Calhan when the United States joined theFirst World War in 1917. Having enlisted in 1915,Private Funk was sent toFrance to support theAllied efforts at theBattle of Saint-Mihiel. There on October 31, 1918, Funk rescued two wounded officers fromno man's land while undermachine gun fire, for which Funk received theMedal of Honor.[9]
In 1993, theOrthodox Church in America established the Protection of the Holy Virgin community, a femalemonastic community. Until they moved further west toLake George in 1995, the monastics rented a home in Calhan.[10]
At the2020 United States census, the town had a total area of 530 acres (2.144 km2), all of it land.[5]
Calhan has a coldsemi-arid climate, characterised by the low levels of rainfall and the cold temperatures.
| Climate data for Calhan, Colorado | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) | 45 (7) | 52 (11) | 60 (16) | 69 (21) | 79 (26) | 86 (30) | 82 (28) | 75 (24) | 63 (17) | 51 (11) | 42 (6) | 62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15 (−9) | 18 (−8) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 42 (6) | 50 (10) | 56 (13) | 55 (13) | 45 (7) | 34 (1) | 23 (−5) | 16 (−9) | 34 (1) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.23 (5.8) | 0.27 (6.9) | 0.77 (20) | 1.48 (38) | 2.20 (56) | 2.28 (58) | 2.61 (66) | 2.68 (68) | 0.97 (25) | 0.78 (20) | 0.42 (11) | 0.27 (6.9) | 14.96 (381.6) |
| Source:The Weather Channel[11] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 399 | — | |
| 1940 | 352 | −11.8% | |
| 1950 | 375 | 6.5% | |
| 1960 | 347 | −7.5% | |
| 1970 | 465 | 34.0% | |
| 1980 | 541 | 16.3% | |
| 1990 | 562 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 896 | 59.4% | |
| 2010 | 780 | −12.9% | |
| 2020 | 762 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of thecensus[12] of 2000, there were 896 people, 347 households, and 246 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,204.1 inhabitants per square mile (464.9/km2). There were 376 housing units at an average density of 505.3 units per square mile (195.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.99%White, 0.22%Native American, 0.67%Asian, 0.22% fromother races, and 1.90% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.90% of the population.
There were 347 households, out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% weremarried couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,735, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $32,135 versus $24,659 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $19,266. About 3.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Students are served byCalhan School District RJ-1.
U.S. Highway 24 runs directly through town. Calhan is served by U.S. 24 as it heads toLimon fromColorado Springs.
Municipalities and communities ofEl Paso County, Colorado,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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