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Cañon City, Colorado

Coordinates:38°26′35″N105°13′13″W/ 38.44306°N 105.22028°W/38.44306; -105.22028
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Cañon City, Colorado
Downtown Cañon City, 2010
Downtown Cañon City, 2010
Flag of Cañon City, Colorado
Nicknames:
Climate Capital of Colorado
Motto:
Gateway to the Authentic West
Location of the City of Cañon City in Fremont County, Colorado.
Location of the City of Cañon City inFremont County, Colorado.
Cañon City is located in the United States
Cañon City
Cañon City
Location of the City of Cañon City in theUnited States.
Coordinates:38°26′35″N105°13′13″W/ 38.44306°N 105.22028°W/38.44306; -105.22028[3]
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyFremont County[2]
Settled1860
IncorporatedApril 3, 1872[4]
Government
• TypeHome rule municipality[1]
• MayorPreston Troutman[citation needed]
Area
• Total12.404 sq mi (32.127 km2)
• Land12.392 sq mi (32.095 km2)
• Water0.012 sq mi (0.032 km2)
Elevation5,312 ft (1,619 m)
Population
• Total17,141
• Density1,383/sq mi (534/km2)
Metro
48,939
CSA
217,101
Front Range
5,055,344
Time zoneUTC−07:00(MST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−06:00(MDT)
ZIP codes[7]
81212, 81215 (PO Box)
Area code719
FIPS code08-11810
GNIS ID2409976[6]
Major Routes
Websitewww.canoncity.org

Cañon City(/ˈkænjən/KAN-yən)[8]is ahome rule municipalitythat is thecounty seatand themost populous municipalityofFremont County, Colorado,United States.[1][9]The city population was 17,141 at the2020 United States Census.[5]Cañon City is the principal city of theCañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Areaand is a part of theFront Range Urban Corridor.Cañon City straddles the easterly flowingArkansas Riverand is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing,whitewater rafting,and rock climbing. The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths.[10]In 1994, theUnited States Board on Geographic Namesapproved adding thetildeto the official name of Cañon City, a change fromCanon Cityas the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975.[11]It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the SpanishÑin its name, others beingLa Cañada Flintridge, California;Española, New Mexico;Peñasco, New Mexico;andPeñitas, Texas.

History

[edit]

Cañon City was laid out on January 17, 1858, during thePike's Peak Gold Rush,but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. This town was originally intended as a commercial center formininginSouth Parkand the upper Arkansas River.[12]

1860s to 1900

[edit]
Bird's eye view of dwellings, commercial and civic buildings between the Arkansas River and mountains in This drawing of Canon City, Colorado, 1882.

In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with theSecond Colorado Infantryduring theAmerican Civil War.This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearbyNew Mexicoand as far east as the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) andMissouribefore ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled forpetroleum6 miles (10 km) north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of 50 feet (15 m), and he completed the first commercial oil well west of theMississippi River.He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refinedkeroseneand fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products inDenver.[13]

A number of metal oresmelterswere built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold atCripple Creekin 1891.

Historical designations

[edit]

TheCañon City Downtown Historic Districtis anhistoric districtthat was listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1983.[14]

Geography

[edit]

Cañon City is located in eastern Fremont County. It sits primarily on the north side of theArkansas River,just east of where the river exits fromRoyal Gorge.It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community ofLincoln Park.ViaU.S. Route 50,Pueblois 39 miles (63 km) to the east andPoncha Springsis 62 miles (100 km) to the west.Colorado Springsis 45 miles (72 km) to the northeast.

At the2020 United States Census,the city had a total area of 7,939 acres (32.127 km2) including 7.9 acres (0.032 km2) of water.[5]

Climate

[edit]

The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and 5,300-foot (1,600 m) elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is 14 °F (7.8 °C) warmer in Cañon City than inGrand Junction,even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.[15]

The average minimum temperature in January is 20 °F (−7 °C). During July, overnight lows are 59 °F (15 °C) on average. Cañon City has asemi-arid climate(Köppen climate classificationBSk).

Climate data for Cañon City, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)
82
(28)
84
(29)
90
(32)
98
(37)
104
(40)
107
(42)
102
(39)
100
(38)
95
(35)
83
(28)
82
(28)
107
(42)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 68.1
(20.1)
69.0
(20.6)
76.5
(24.7)
82.1
(27.8)
89.0
(31.7)
96.7
(35.9)
97.8
(36.6)
95.7
(35.4)
92.1
(33.4)
84.9
(29.4)
75.6
(24.2)
68.2
(20.1)
98.8
(37.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 49.4
(9.7)
50.4
(10.2)
58.5
(14.7)
64.3
(17.9)
73.3
(22.9)
84.6
(29.2)
89.2
(31.8)
86.7
(30.4)
80.1
(26.7)
68.6
(20.3)
57.2
(14.0)
49.0
(9.4)
67.6
(19.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.9
(1.1)
35.0
(1.7)
42.3
(5.7)
48.8
(9.3)
58.2
(14.6)
68.4
(20.2)
73.9
(23.3)
72.0
(22.2)
64.2
(17.9)
52.4
(11.3)
41.8
(5.4)
33.8
(1.0)
52.1
(11.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18.4
(−7.6)
19.7
(−6.8)
26.1
(−3.3)
33.2
(0.7)
43.0
(6.1)
52.2
(11.2)
58.7
(14.8)
57.2
(14.0)
48.4
(9.1)
36.1
(2.3)
26.3
(−3.2)
18.7
(−7.4)
36.5
(2.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −1.5
(−18.6)
2.2
(−16.6)
11.3
(−11.5)
20.2
(−6.6)
30.8
(−0.7)
42.9
(6.1)
51.9
(11.1)
50.0
(10.0)
36.1
(2.3)
21.2
(−6.0)
9.0
(−12.8)
−1.6
(−18.7)
−8.5
(−22.5)
Record low °F (°C) −24
(−31)
−30
(−34)
−13
(−25)
5
(−15)
15
(−9)
30
(−1)
35
(2)
35
(2)
25
(−4)
−3
(−19)
−24
(−31)
−25
(−32)
−30
(−34)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 0.55
(14)
0.57
(14)
1.04
(26)
1.76
(45)
1.56
(40)
0.85
(22)
2.25
(57)
2.06
(52)
1.20
(30)
0.87
(22)
0.55
(14)
0.46
(12)
13.72
(348)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.7
(17)
6.2
(16)
6.0
(15)
4.1
(10)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.51)
3.3
(8.4)
5.1
(13)
6.2
(16)
38.3
(97.21)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) 3.7 4.7 5.6 6.8 8.4 7.4 11.6 12.0 6.5 5.4 4.5 4.1 80.7
Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) 3.4 3.9 3.0 2.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 3.8 20.1
Source 1: NOAA[16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

Neighborhoods

[edit]
Located in Cañon City'sNational Historic District,the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. It is currently unoccupied and in disrepair after a string of failed attempts to revive the business. The hotel was moved, brick by brick, fromSilver Cliff, Colorado,in 1888.
Royal Gorge Bridgein 1987
Arkansas Riverwalk in Cañon City is part of John Griffin Regional Park. It is owned and operated by the Cañon City Area Metropolitan Recreation and Park District.

As Cañon City has grown, the city has both annexed surrounding communities and developed new subdivisions to create the city that exists today.

  • Dawson Ranch
  • Eagle Heights
  • Fireman's Bluff
  • Four Mile Ranch
  • Gold Cañon
  • Meadowbrook
  • Orchard Park
  • South Cañon, a historic neighborhood located on the west side south of theArkansas River
  • Sunrise Mesa
  • Western Meadows
  • Wolf Park
  • Five Star Mobile Home park

Parks and recreation

[edit]

Cañon City is home to many city-owned parks, as well as parks owned by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District.

City-owned parks

[edit]
  • Centennial Park, commonly known as "Duck Park"
  • Denver & Rio Grande Western Park, commonly known as "Depot Park"
  • Greydene Park
  • Magdalene Park
  • Margaret Park (originally Margarette Park)
  • Mountain View Park, home of the city's skate park
  • Red Canyon Park, a 500-acre (200 ha) park located 10 miles (16 km) north of the city
  • Royal Gorge Park, home of theRoyal Gorge Bridgeand Park
  • Rudd Park
  • Temple Canyon Park
  • Veterans Park, known for Entertainment in the Park concerts during the summer

Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District

[edit]

The Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, commonly called the Rec District, was created in 1965[18]to better serve the community's recreational needs with parks, the R.C. Icabone Pool (a public swimming pool), a dog park, an archery range and a ropes course along with a rec district office with a community room.

The following parks are operated and owned by the Rec District:

  • John Griffin Park, located near the Sell's Avenue Trailhead of the Riverwalk
  • Harrison Park, the former playground of the former Harrison Elementary School which had been relocated to a newer, larger school building housing both elementary and middle school students
  • Pathfinder Regional Park, a joint-managed park located in the county between Cañon City andFlorence
  • Rouse Park

In addition, the city maintains theTunnel Drive Trail,a four-mile long out-and-back trail that follows the course of an old irrigation canal. The trailhead is located at the west end of Tunnel Drive, just inside the city limits.

The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in the name ofGuy U. Hardyto recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in theRoyal Gorgearea.[19]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870229
18801,501555.5%
18902,82588.2%
19003,77533.6%
19105,16236.7%
19204,551−11.8%
19305,93830.5%
19406,69012.7%
19506,345−5.2%
19608,97341.4%
19709,2062.6%
198013,03741.6%
199012,687−2.7%
200015,43121.6%
201016,4006.3%
202017,1414.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the 2020census,[20]there were 17,141 people residing in the city. Thepopulation densitywas 1,312.1 inhabitants per square mile (506.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.4%White,1.0%African American,0.6%Native American,0.1%Asian,and 1.5% from two or more races.Hispanics or Latinosof any race were 10.2% of the population. There were 7,448 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.05.

The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18 and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. Women represent 52% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,464. Theper capita incomefor the city was $25,232. About 17.1% of the population were below thepoverty line.

Law

[edit]

Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and a municipal court, Cañon City is home to the courts forFremont Countyand the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".[21]

Government

[edit]

Cañon City is governed via theCouncil–manager governmentsystem. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. Themayoris elected by the entire city.

Economy

[edit]

The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching, and farming, but has largely grown to rely on the large number of state and federal prisons in the area, as well as to tourism, education, manufacturing, medicine and many other sectors.

Major employers

[edit]

Cañon City depends on theColorado Department of Correctionsand federal prison system, and its tourism industry which includes theRoyal Gorge Route Railroad,Royal Gorge Bridgeand Park, Red Canyon Park, The Abbey winery, and various other attractions. The major local employers include downtown shops, the entrepreneurial TechSTART initiative that attracts major technology-based entrepreneurs, and Centura Health (owner ofSt. Thomas More Hospitaland the Progressive Care Center).

Prisons

[edit]

Prisons have served an important significance to both Cañon City and the surrounding areas ofFremont County,as well as to the state ofColorado.TheMuseum of Colorado Prisonshas been given the role of preserving and presenting the past of the state's corrections system.Colorado Department of Correctionsoperates theColorado Territorial Correctional Facilityin Cañon City.[22]In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City inunincorporated areasinFremont County,Colorado State Penitentiary,the location of the state death row and execution chamber[23]is in Fremont County.[24]Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,[25]Centennial Correctional Facility,[26]Fremont Correctional Facility,[27]Four Mile Correctional Center,[28]ADX Florence, and Skyline Correctional Center.[29]

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.[30]

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.[31][32]

Tourism

[edit]

From Cañon City'sDowntown Historic Districtlocated in the heart of the city to theRoyal Gorge Bridge,there are many places to see and visit in the area.[citation needed]

Media

[edit]

Cañon City is home to a daily newspaper, called theCañon City Daily Record;an FM radio station,Star Country104.5 FM;and a long-running AM radio station, known asKRLNNewsRadio1400 AM.

Transportation

[edit]

Transportation in the Cañon City area consists of cab service, shuttle bus service, and a downtown wagon ride. TheRoyal Gorge Bridgetrolley had also been used during special events (it was destroyed in theRoyal Gorge Fire,but it was reserved for use by the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Jeep tours andSegwaytours are also available to explore local parks such as Red Canyon Park or scenic places such asSkyline Drive.

The town is served by the Fremont County airport (1V6) which is 6 miles to the East and currently has no scheduled passenger service.[33]Within an hour's drive is the Colorado Springs airport with daily service by major airlines.

Major roads and highways

[edit]

The area is served by one state and one U.S. highway with a mix of city and county roads to navigate the city or connect to neighboring areas.

State and national highways

[edit]

City and county roads

[edit]
  • 4th Street - connecting Downtown with South Cañon, Oak Creek Grade,Prospect Heights,and Capitol Hill
  • 5th Street - serves as a north-south connector from Downtown north, allows traffic from Skyline Drive to return to U.S. 50
  • 9th Street - serves as a carrier of CO 115 from the roundabout to the junction with U.S. 50, heads north and ends at Washington Street
  • 15th Street - main route north to the hospital, a fire station and a small cluster of businesses
  • Orchard Avenue
  • Raynolds Avenue/Ash Street - runs from center of East Cañon to CO 115 via a county road, changes to a gravel road and becomes Chandler Road
  • MacKenzie / Four Mile Lane - routed to connect from CO 115 as a carrier of CR 20 until the city limits, at Hwy 50, heads north as Four Mile Lane

Bus service

[edit]
  • Cañon City is part of Colorado'sBustangnetwork. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.[34]

Scenic routes

[edit]
  • Skyline Drive,major scenic route overlooking Cañon City that was originally built by local inmates at the Territorial Prison

Railroads

[edit]

Education

[edit]
See alsoCañon City School District

Cañon City's school system is under the direction of theCañon City School DistrictFremont RE-1.[35]The district currently has four elementary schools, one charter school, one school serving as both an elementary school and middle school, one middle school and one high school,Cañon City High School.

For the higher education needs of the community,Pueblo Community Collegeprovides a branch campus on the west end of the city alongU.S. Highway 50.

Places of interest

[edit]

Other sites

[edit]

Defunct sites

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]
[edit]

The movieCanon City(1948) depicts the real-life 1947 escape of 12 prisoners from nearbyColorado State Penitentiary.[36]

A diner in Cañon City is the setting of the song "Navajo Rug", which was named by theWestern Writers of Americaas one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.[37]

A fictional version of the city is depicted inPhilip K. Dick'salternate historynovelThe Man in the High Castle(1963) andits eponymous 2015 television series adaptation.Cañon City is in an ostensibly-demilitarized"neutral zone" between thepuppet regimesof the Japanese Pacific States, in the west, and Greater Nazi Reich, in the east, in the former United States.[38]

Sister cities

[edit]

Cañon City'ssister citiesare:[39]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abc"Active Colorado Municipalities".Colorado Department of Local Affairs.RetrievedOctober 15,2021.
  2. ^"Colorado Counties".State of Colorado,Colorado Department of Local Affairs,Division of Local Government.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
  3. ^"2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places".United States Census Bureau.July 1, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 5,2015.
  4. ^"Colorado Municipal Incorporations".State of Colorado,Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004.RetrievedSeptember 2,2007.
  5. ^abcd"Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data".United States Census Bureau,United States Department of Commerce.August 12, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 7,2021.
  6. ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cañon City, Colorado
  7. ^"ZIP Code Lookup".United States Postal Service.Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 7,2007.
  8. ^New details released in Cañon City manhunt.KOAA5. January 8, 2024. Event occurs at 00:04.RetrievedMay 2,2024– viaYouTube.
  9. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  10. ^Welch, Michael; Turner, Fatiniyah (2007). "Private Corrections, Financial Infrastructure, and Transportation: The New Geo-Economy of Shipping Prisoners".Social Justice.34(3): 57.JSTOR29768464.
  11. ^"Cañon City".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
  12. ^"Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon CityTimes,November 10, 1860, p.4.
  13. ^Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960),Historical summary,in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.
  14. ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.April 15, 2008.
  15. ^"United States of America Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)".Weatherbase.
  16. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canon City, CO".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  17. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pueblo".National Weather Service.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  18. ^"Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District: About Us".RetrievedFebruary 5,2014.
  19. ^"Nominees for the Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation are due Sunday".Cañon City Daily Record.November 25, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 3,2020.
  20. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 26,2022.
  21. ^"America's cheeriest prison town does not want to lock more people up".The Economist.August 10, 2017.
  22. ^"Colorado Territorial Correctional FacilityArchived2014-08-09 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."
  23. ^"Death Row FAQ."(Archive)Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  24. ^"Colorado State PenitentiaryArchived2014-08-04 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  25. ^"Arrowhead Correctional CenterArchived2012-08-01 atarchive.today."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  26. ^"Centennial Correctional FacilityArchived2014-08-04 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  27. ^"Fremont Correctional FacilityArchived2014-08-04 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  28. ^"Four Mile Correctional CenterArchived2014-08-04 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  29. ^"Skyline Correctional CenterArchived2014-08-04 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  30. ^"1929 Colorado State Penitentiary riot".The Archive.
  31. ^Mitchell, Kirk. "Cañon City women's prison closes today."The Denver Post.June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  32. ^"GDE Testing Centers by CityArchived2010-04-20 at theWayback Machine."Colorado Department of Education.Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility 3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."
  33. ^"Airport".Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2018.
  34. ^"Bustang Schedule".RideBustang.CDOT.
  35. ^"Cañon City Schools".RetrievedNovember 11,2013.
  36. ^Canon City.IMDb. June 30, 1948.RetrievedFebruary 6,2016.
  37. ^Western Writers of America(2010)."The Top 100 Western Songs".American Cowboy.Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2010.
  38. ^Enger, Jeremy (November 19, 2015)."Red, Reich and Blue: Building the World of 'The Man in the High Castle'".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 23,2016.
  39. ^"Sister Cities: Valdai, Novgorod Oblast, Russia".canoncity.org.Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center. November 21, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 18,2021.
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