Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge, Colorado | ||
---|---|---|
ZIP code 80424[5] | ||
Area code | 970 | |
FIPS code | 08-08400 | |
GNIS feature ID | 2411722[2] | |
Website | www.townofbreckenridge.com |
Breckenridge is the
Since ski trails were first cut in 1961,
Name
The first prospectors in the area built a stockade known as
History
Prospectors entered what is now Summit County (then part of
Notable among the early prospectors was Edwin Carter, a log cabin naturalist who decided to switch from mining to collecting wildlife specimens. His log cabin, built in 1875, still stands today and has been recently renovated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance with interactive exhibits and a small viewing room with a short creative film on his life and the early days around Breckenridge.
Harry Farncomb found the source of the French Gulch placer gold on Farncomb Hill in 1878. His strike, Wire Patch, consisted of alluvial gold in wire, leaf and crystalline forms. By 1880, he owned the hill. Farncomb later discovered a gold vein, which became the Wire Patch Mine. Other vein discoveries included Ontario, Key West, Boss, Fountain, and Gold Flake.[15]: 57
The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance reports that in the 1930s, a women's group in Breckenridge stumbled upon an 1880s map that failed to include Breckenridge. They speculated that Breckenridge had never been officially annexed into the United States, and was thus still considered "No Man's Land". This was completely false—official US maps did include Breckenridge—but these women created an incredibly clever marketing campaign out of this one map. In 1936 they invited the Governor of Colorado to Breckenridge to raise a flag at the Courthouse officially welcoming Breckenridge into the union—and he came. There was a big party, and the entire event/idea of Breckenridge being left off the map made national news. The "No Man's Land" idea later morphed into a new theme of Breckenridge being referred to as "Colorado's Kingdom", and the theme of the town's independent spirit is still celebrated to today during the annual "Kingdom Days" celebrations every June.
In December 1961, skiing was introduced to Breckenridge when several trails were cut on the lower part of Peak 8, connected to town by Ski Hill Road. In the ensuing decades, the ski area was gradually expanded onto adjacent peaks, with trails opening on Peak 9 in the early 1970s, Peak 10 in 1985, Peak 7 in 2002, and Peak 6 in 2013.
On November 3, 2009, voters passed ballot measure 2F by a nearly 3 to 1 margin (73%), which legalized
Geography
Breckenridge is located at 39°29′11″N 106°02′37″W / 39.486445°N 106.043516°W.[17]
At the
Climate
Breckenridge's climate is considered to be high-alpine with the tree line at 11,500 feet (3,500 m). The average humidity remains around 30% throughout the year.[18] At the elevation of the weather station, the climate could be described as a variety of a subarctic climate (Dfc) since summer means are above 50 °F (10 °C) in spite of the very cool nights. Winter lows are quite severe, but the days averaging around the freezing mark somewhat moderate mean temperatures.
A weather station was run in the town from 1893 to 1913, and from 1948 to the present day. However, temperature measurements are mostly confined to the first period, and the temperature record is thus very sparse. Even so, a temperature of freezing or below was recorded for every single date of the year except July 26.[19] During the winter of 1898–1899, snow was reported to fall for a record 79 consecutive days. Residents tunneled through the snow to navigate Main Street.[20]
Climate data for Breckenridge, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1978 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
71 (22) |
61 (16) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
85 (29) |
86 (30) |
90 (32) |
86 (30) |
77 (25) |
69 (21) |
60 (16) |
90 (32) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 45.5 (7.5) |
45.4 (7.4) |
51.9 (11.1) |
60.3 (15.7) |
68.2 (20.1) |
76.4 (24.7) |
79.5 (26.4) |
79.9 (26.6) |
74.5 (23.6) |
67.1 (19.5) |
57.0 (13.9) |
48.3 (9.1) |
80.8 (27.1) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.7 (−1.3) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
36.9 (2.7) |
44.4 (6.9) |
53.4 (11.9) |
65.2 (18.4) |
70.2 (21.2) |
70.3 (21.3) |
63.9 (17.7) |
51.8 (11.0) |
40.7 (4.8) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
48.9 (9.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.1 (−9.4) |
15.9 (−8.9) |
22.5 (−5.3) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
39.1 (3.9) |
48.4 (9.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
53.4 (11.9) |
46.5 (8.1) |
36.0 (2.2) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
33.5 (0.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 0.2 (−17.7) |
1.1 (−17.2) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
16.5 (−8.6) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
37.3 (2.9) |
36.6 (2.6) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
10.0 (−12.2) |
0.3 (−17.6) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −22.2 (−30.1) |
−21.0 (−29.4) |
−11.5 (−24.2) |
−4.0 (−20.0) |
8.9 (−12.8) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
17.0 (−8.3) |
3.2 (−16.0) |
−10.9 (−23.8) |
−21.0 (−29.4) |
−28.3 (−33.5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −40 (−40) |
−37 (−38) |
−25 (−32) |
−16 (−27) |
−6 (−21) |
3 (−16) |
20 (−7) |
22 (−6) |
7 (−14) |
−11 (−24) |
−26 (−32) |
−36 (−38) |
−40 (−40) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.73 (44) |
1.88 (48) |
2.03 (52) |
2.46 (62) |
1.97 (50) |
1.16 (29) |
2.45 (62) |
2.24 (57) |
1.53 (39) |
1.35 (34) |
1.45 (37) |
1.52 (39) |
21.77 (553) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 27.7 (70) |
27.7 (70) |
27.6 (70) |
28.0 (71) |
9.5 (24) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
2.2 (5.6) |
13.6 (35) |
23.7 (60) |
23.8 (60) |
184.6 (467.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.7 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 10.3 | 8.2 | 13.4 | 14.4 | 10.0 | 8.6 | 10.1 | 11.1 | 136.4 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 12.5 | 12.2 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 11.1 | 80.5 |
Source 1: National Weather Service (average daily high/mean/low, mean maxima/minima 1893–1978)[21] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA[22] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 51 | — | |
1880 | 1,657 | 3,149.0% | |
1900 | 976 | — | |
1910 | 834 | −14.5% | |
1920 | 796 | −4.6% | |
1930 | 436 | −45.2% | |
1940 | 381 | −12.6% | |
1950 | 296 | −22.3% | |
1960 | 393 | 32.8% | |
1970 | 548 | 39.4% | |
1980 | 818 | 49.3% | |
1990 | 1,285 | 57.1% | |
2000 | 2,408 | 87.4% | |
2010 | 4,540 | 88.5% | |
2020 | 5,078 | 11.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
As of the
There were 1,081 households, out of which 13.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.9% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.1% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 45.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 2.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 164.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,938, and the median income for a family was $52,212. Males had a median income of $29,571 versus $27,917 for females. The
For 2009 the average price for a single family home in the Breckenridge area is $1,035,806 with a sold price per square foot of $314.00. For multifamily properties the average price is $560,689 with a sales price per square foot of $440. Land sales prices averaged $373,067.[23]
Events
Breckenridge holds public events throughout the year.
Winter
Every January, the International Snow Sculpture Championships are held in Breckenridge, where sculptors from around the world compete to create works of art from twenty-ton blocks of snow. The annual winter Ullr Fest parade pays homage to the Norse god of snow Ullr. The Backcountry Film Fest began in the 21st century, which happens in January.[9] That is held about the same time as the Ullr Fest.[10]
Since winter of 2008–2009, the Freeway Terrain Park on Peak 8 hosts the
Summer and fall
During the summer, Breckenridge is host to the National Repertory Orchestra and the Breckenridge Music Institute. Concerts are scheduled three to four nights a week. Full orchestra, ensembles, and contemporary artists perform at the Riverwalk Center, downtown near the Blue River. Several art fairs come to Breckenridge every summer, attracting many local artists and buyers. The town also puts on an annual Fourth of July celebration, featuring a parade in the morning and fireworks at night. In September each year since 1981, the Breckenridge Festival of film is held.[7][8]
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Breckenridge include:
- Pat Ahern (1961– ), U.S. Olympic Nordic combined skier
- Edwin Carter (c.1830–1900), miner, naturalist[25]
- Jeff Cravath (1903–1953), football coach[26]
- Barney Ford (1822–1902), Colorado businessman and civil-rights pioneer
- Arielle Gold (1996– ), Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder[27]
- Taylor Gold (1993– ), Olympic snowboarder[27]
- Al Jourgensen (1958– ), singer-songwriter, producer[28]
- Heather McPhie (1984– ), U.S. Olympic freestyle/moguls skier[29]
- Monique Merrill (1969– ), mountain biker, ski mountaineer[30]
- J. R. Moehringer (1964– ), novelist, reporter[31]
- Helen Rich (1894–1971), novelist and journalist[32]
- Betsy Sodaro (1984– ), actress, comedian[33]
- Pete Swenson (1967– ), ski mountaineer[34]
- Belle Turnbull (1881–1970), poet[32]
- Katie Uhlaender (1984– ), U.S. Olympic skeleton racer[35]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Breckenridge, Colorado
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on September 3, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "37th Annual Breckenridge Film Festival". Without A Box. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ a b "About the Breck Film Fest". Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ a b "Backcountry Film Festival returns Jan. 21 to Breckenridge". Summit Daily. Summit County, Colorado. January 11, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ a b "Breckenridge Ullr Fest". gobreck.com. 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Hague, Rick (May 8, 2015). "Summit County history: Two theories of how Breckenridge got its name". SummitDaily. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ Dawson, John Frank (1954). "Breckenridge". Place Names in Colorado: Why 700 Communities Were So Named. p. 11. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Town History, Gold Dust to White Gold". Special Features. Town of Breckenridge. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
- ^ A. H. Koschman and M. H. Bergendahl (1968) Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States. US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 610, p.116–117
- ISBN 0878424555
- ^ "Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Pot". CBS. November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Town of Breckenridge : Living in Breckenridge". townofbreckenridge.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2009.
- ^ Team, National Weather Service Corporate Image Web. "National Weather Service Climate". w2.weather.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Jensen, Kelly (January 3, 2018). "It once snowed for 79 days straight in this Colorado town". 9news.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boulder/Denver". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ "Breckenridge Real Estate". General Market Reports. Andrew Biggin. Archived from the original on December 11, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
- ^ "Breckenridge Snow Sculptures". Breckenridge Real Estate – Snow Sculptures. Ron Shelton. Archived from the original on December 27, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ "Edwin Carter Discovery Center". Breckenridge Heritage Alliance. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ "Jeff Cravath". IMDb. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ a b Foltz, Sebastian (March 6, 2015). "Steamboat Olympic snowboarders Taylor and Arielle Gold at home in Breckenridge". Summit Daily. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ Murphy, Tom (June 12, 2012). "Ministry's Al Jourgensen on his ties to Colorado: living in Breckenridge, attending Greeley High School and his ill-fated attempt at a rodeo career". Westword. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ Frame, Andy (April 9, 2005). "McPhie wins Landon Sawyer Bump Bash". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ McClean, Page (July 25, 2015). "Life on Two Wheels: Globetrotting with former adventure racer Monique Merrill". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ Clarke, Norm (January 5, 2010). "AN 'OPEN' DISCUSSION WITH JR MOEHRINGER". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-1607321958.
- ^ Porter IV, Miles (August 30, 2012). "Hey, Spike! offers a plethora of personalities". Summit Daily. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ Lapides, Katie (February 10, 2011). "Colorado's randonee king: Pete Swenson". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ "Katie Uhlaender". Team USA. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
External links
- Town of Breckenridge website
- CDOT map of the Town of Breckenridge
- Breckenridge gold mining history at Western Mining History