Basalt, Colorado | |
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 Downtown Basalt with Basalt Mountain in the background | |
| Nickname: "The Heart of the Roaring Fork Valley" | |
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  Basalt Location of the Town of Basalt, Colorado. Show map of the United States Basalt Basalt (Colorado) Show map of Colorado | |
| Coordinates:39°22′08″N107°01′58″W / 39.3689°N 107.0328°W /39.3689; -107.0328[3] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Counties | Eagle andPitkin[2] |
| Incorporated | August 26, 1901[4] |
| Government | |
| • Type | home rule town[1] |
| • Mayor | David Knight |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.999 sq mi (5.178 km2) |
| • Land | 1.992 sq mi (5.158 km2) |
| • Water | 0.008 sq mi (0.020 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,611 ft (2,015 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,984 |
| • Density | 2,000/sq mi (800/km2) |
| • CSA | 134,774 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 81621[6] |
| Area code | 970 |
| GNIS pop ID | 175038 |
| GNIS town ID | 2411665 |
| FIPS code | 08-04935 |
| Website | Town of Basalt |
Basalt is ahome rule town located inEagle andPitkincounties,Colorado,United States.[1] The town population was 3,984 at the2020 United States census with 2,917 residing in Eagle County and 1,067 residing in Pitkin County.[5] Basalt is a part of theEdwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area.
Basalt was first named Aspen Junction after the railroad junction which led to present dayAspen, Colorado. Aspen Junction was a territory serving Aspen to Leadville Mining towns, with the Railroad Junction, also going West and South to Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The Aspen Junction, Colorado, post office opened on February 13, 1890.[7] The town was first served by theColorado Midland Railroad, but the railroad was later bought by theDenver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1901.[8][9]
The Aspen Junction post office was renamed Basalt on June 19, 1895,[7] and the Town of Basalt was incorporated on August 26, 1901.[1] The name was chosen for the basaltic rock formations on Basalt Mountain.[10]
Basalt is located alongState Highway 82, and at the confluence of theFryingpan andRoaring Fork rivers.
At the2020 United States census, the town had a total area of 1,280 acres (5.178 km2) including 4.9 acres (0.020 km2) of water.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 382 | — | |
| 1910 | 235 | −38.5% | |
| 1920 | 185 | −21.3% | |
| 1930 | 148 | −20.0% | |
| 1940 | 212 | 43.2% | |
| 1950 | 173 | −18.4% | |
| 1960 | 213 | 23.1% | |
| 1970 | 419 | 96.7% | |
| 1980 | 529 | 26.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,128 | 113.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,681 | 137.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,857 | 43.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,984 | 3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2000, there were 2,681 people, 1,052 households, and 637 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,394.8 inhabitants per square mile (538.5/km2). There were 1,218 housing units at an average density of 633.7 per square mile (244.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.53%White, 0.48%African American, 0.52%Native American, 1.27%Asian, 0.11%Pacific Islander, 4.77% fromother races, and 1.31% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 11.75% of the population.
There were 1,052 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% weremarried couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 42.3% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $67,200, and the median income for a family was $73,375. Males had a median income of $40,791 versus $30,532 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $30,746. About 4.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Basalt is well known for its Gold Medal trout fishing in the Frying Pan River. Ruedi Reservoir is also a popular regional destination for boating and other watersports. Basalt is a hub for mountain biking in the Roaring Fork valley. There are a dozen world class cross country trails as well as lift-accessed downhilling within 15 miles of Basalt, both up and down the valley.
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Municipalities and communities ofEagle County, Colorado,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
Municipalities and communities ofPitkin County, Colorado,United States | ||
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| Towns | ||
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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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