Salida, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Arkansas River Walk in downtown Salida | |
| Nickname: Heart of the Rockies | |
| Motto: "Union, Justice, Safety" | |
 Location of the City of Salida inChaffee County, Colorado | |
  Salida Location of the City of Salida, Colorado. Show map of the United States Salida Salida (Colorado) Show map of Colorado | |
| Coordinates:38°32′05″N105°59′56″W / 38.5347°N 105.9989°W /38.5347; -105.9989[3] | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Chaffee County[2] |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Incorporated | March 23, 1891[4] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory city[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.77 sq mi (7.17 km2) |
| • Land | 2.77 sq mi (7.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,084 ft (2,159 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 5,666 |
| • Density | 2,050/sq mi (790/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes[7] | 81201, 81227 (PO Box), 81237 |
| Area code | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-67280 |
| GNIS ID | 204758 |
| Major highways |   |
| Website | Official website |
Salida (/səˈlaɪdə/sə-LY-də;Spanish language:[saˈliða], "exit") is thestatutory city that is thecounty seat of and themost populous municipality inChaffee County, Colorado, United States.[8] The population was 5,666 at the2020 census.[9]
The Arkansas, Colorado, post office opened on June 16, 1880, but was renamed Salida on March 28, 1881.[10] Salida, meaning "exit" in Spanish, was named on account of its location near the point where theArkansas River flows out of the valley and into Bighorn Sheep Canyon, upstream from theRoyal Gorge.[11] The Town of Salida was incorporated on March 23, 1891.[4]
TheDenver & Rio Grande Railroad built their 3-footnarrow-gauge railroad up fromTexas Creek and built a station at Salida, known at the time as "South Arkansas" in 1880.[12] bypassing the nearby community of Cleora. Rather than risk their settlement withering away from lack of rail service, it is said that the population of Cleora moved to Salidaen masse.[13] That same year, the railroad continued from "South Arkansas," following up the Arkansas river, connecting with the rich silver mines ofLeadville. Later that year, the Rio Grande connected South Arkansas to Poncha Junction. This small start would connect viaMarshall Pass with the western slope andSalt Lake City,Utah, turning the newly re-christened Salida into an important junction in the early history of Colorado.[12] In 1890, the railroad laid an additional third rail through Salida, but only on the line towardsTennessee Pass.[14] As a result, Salida became known as a tourist and railroad enthusiast mecca into the mid-20th century.[15]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.77 square miles (7.2 km2), and theArkansas River, which runs through the town, is the major source of water for local agriculture.
TheSawatch Range runs north and south and is located roughly 10 miles (16 km) west of Salida. TheMosquito Range parallels the Sawatch Range to the east, forming the Upper Arkansas Valley, and the southern terminus of the range, just east of Salida, is known locally as theArkansas Hills.Methodist Mountain, which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in theSangre de Cristo Mountains. To the north of Salida is the Upper Arkansas Valley and the town ofBuena Vista.
U.S. Route 50 runs along the southern edge of the city and leads east down the Arkansas River 58 miles (93 km) toCañon City; to the west it leads 4 miles (6 km) toPoncha Springs and 63 miles (101 km) over theContinental Divide toGunnison.Canon City andPueblo lie to the east.
According to theKöppen climate classification, Salida has aCold semi-arid climate (BSk)
| Climate data for Salida, Colorado (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–1923, 1931–2017) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 71 (22) | 77 (25) | 82 (28) | 93 (34) | 98 (37) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 94 (34) | 85 (29) | 80 (27) | 70 (21) | 103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 57.9 (14.4) | 60.0 (15.6) | 67.7 (19.8) | 75.3 (24.1) | 83.0 (28.3) | 91.1 (32.8) | 93.9 (34.4) | 89.9 (32.2) | 85.6 (29.8) | 78.2 (25.7) | 66.9 (19.4) | 58.0 (14.4) | 94.3 (34.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.4 (6.3) | 45.5 (7.5) | 54.0 (12.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 70.2 (21.2) | 82.0 (27.8) | 85.8 (29.9) | 83.1 (28.4) | 77.0 (25.0) | 65.4 (18.6) | 52.7 (11.5) | 43.2 (6.2) | 63.6 (17.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 37.5 (3.1) | 44.0 (6.7) | 52.4 (11.3) | 62.7 (17.1) | 67.4 (19.7) | 65.1 (18.4) | 58.0 (14.4) | 47.1 (8.4) | 36.1 (2.3) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 46.3 (7.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.5 (−11.4) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 21.0 (−6.1) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 34.6 (1.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 49.1 (9.5) | 47.2 (8.4) | 38.9 (3.8) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 19.5 (−6.9) | 12.6 (−10.8) | 29.1 (−1.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −5.1 (−20.6) | −6.3 (−21.3) | 5.4 (−14.8) | 12.5 (−10.8) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 32.4 (0.2) | 40.6 (4.8) | 38.4 (3.6) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 1.6 (−16.9) | −7.3 (−21.8) | −15.7 (−26.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) | −33 (−36) | −21 (−29) | −8 (−22) | 13 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 30 (−1) | 31 (−1) | 14 (−10) | −4 (−20) | −20 (−29) | −31 (−35) | −35 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.27 (6.9) | 0.69 (18) | 1.05 (27) | 0.96 (24) | 0.50 (13) | 1.36 (35) | 1.46 (37) | 0.67 (17) | 0.87 (22) | 0.25 (6.4) | 0.38 (9.7) | 8.77 (223) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.0 (10) | 4.1 (10) | 6.5 (17) | 8.0 (20) | 2.7 (6.9) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.6 (6.6) | 4.1 (10) | 4.7 (12) | 36.7 (93) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.3 | 9.9 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 56.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 16.3 |
| Source:NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)[16][17][18] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 2,586 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,722 | 43.9% | |
| 1910 | 4,425 | 18.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,689 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 5,065 | 8.0% | |
| 1940 | 4,969 | −1.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,553 | −8.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,560 | 0.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,355 | −4.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,870 | 11.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,737 | −2.7% | |
| 2000 | 5,504 | 16.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,236 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,666 | 8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
At the2000 census there were 5,504 people, 2,504 households, and 1,449 families living in the city. The population density was 2,480.1 inhabitants per square mile (957.6/km2). There were 2,748 housing units at an average density of 1,238.3 per square mile (478.1/km2). Theracial 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%.[19]
Of the 2,504 households 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 households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.
The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $28,790 and the median family income 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 thepoverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Salida Downtown Historic District was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1984.[20] On March 30, 2012, downtown Salida was named one of two inaugural Certified Creative Districts in Colorado.[21] Salida is also home to the Shavano Chapter of theColumbine Poets of Colorado, which is affiliated with theNational Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The group organizes workshops and festivals and offers poetry contests for both adults and students.[22] On March 30, 2012, Colorado byColorado Creative Industries, a division of the State's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced that the City of Salida's historic downtown was selected as one of only two inaugural “Certified Creative Districts” in Colorado.[23]
The city is served by Salida Public Schools. There are two public high schools,Salida High School and Horizons Exploratory Academy; and three middle schools, Salida Middle School, Salida Montessori Charter School, and the Crest Academy.Colorado Mountain College has a campus in Salida, which opened in 2019.
Salida and surrounding Chaffee County are served by theHeart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, located on the north side of town on Rush Drive.
Salida is part of Colorado'sBustang bus network. It is on both the Alamosa-Pueblo and the Crested Butte-Denver Outrider lines.[24] Mountain Valley Transport offers hourly service between Salida and Buena Vista during the day, as well as local door-to-door service.[25]
Salida, Colo., Mecca of the railfan; Salida, with big D&RGW articulateds huffing after the climb over Tennessee Pass, top of the world; Salida, with tiny narrow gauge engines starting southwest for their uncompromising attack on the Rockies. The spirit of Salida has been truly captured in "Salida Yards at Sunrise," as Jim Morley, ... Berkeley, Calif., calls his photo.
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Travel information from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofChaffee County, Colorado,United States | ||
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