Georgetown, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°42′45″N 105°41′45″W / 39.71250°N 105.69583°W / 39.71250; -105.69583
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Georgetown, Colorado
Territorial charter municipality[1]
Georgetown as seen from Interstate 70
Georgetown as seen from Interstate 70
I-70
Websitewww.townofgeorgetown.us
The only surviving
Colorado Territorial Charter Municipality

Georgetown is the

ZIP code 80444.[5]

The town sits at an elevation of 8,530 feet (2,600 m) above sea level, nestled in the mountains near the upper end of the valley of Clear Creek in the mountains west of

Front Range Urban Corridor
.

History

Georgetown, 1867
View west along Sixth Street in downtown Georgetown, with the historic Masonic Temple in the foreground
Grace Episcopal Church, built in 1870, now overlooks Interstate 70.
Georgetown
The historic Alpine Hose Firehouse No. 2 in Georgetown
Georgetown Public School

The area was first settled in 1859 during the

Pike's Peak Gold Rush. George and David Griffith were members of a mining party which decided to separate from the others in the Central City and Idaho Springs areas. They found gold in Clear Creek (near the present-day site of the Alpine Inn) and decided to settle in the area for the rest of the summer and fall. The Griffith Mining District incorporated in June 1860. Soon after the formation of the Griffith Mining District, several early residents joined to form the "Georgetown Company," claiming 640 acres for a townsite. The townsite would be overseen by the Griffith Mining District. The commercial district was tagged "Main Street," a name which would continue into the 20th century. The center of the nascent town was roughly in the area of the I-70 interchange, close to the present-day Rutherford stables.[6]

Silver, the main product from the district, was not discovered until 1864. John Henry Bowman (1850–1900) came to Silver Plume, Colorado, in 1883, then moved to Georgetown, Colorado, in 1885. A machinist, he worked as foreman of the Miners Sampling Works. Later, he was superintendent of the American Sisters Mine, a company in which he owned stock. American Sisters Mine was a consolidation of Two Sisters Mine and Native American Mine, silver mines located on Columbia Mountain in upper Clear Creek County, Colorado. In 1891–1892, John Bowman and his wife, Lavinia Potts Bowman (1848–1901) built what later became known as the Bowman/White House in Georgetown (a historical site today). There they raised two daughters, Iorria and Mary Ellen ("Mellie"). In 1899, Iorria married J. E. Carnal and moved to Ohio.

For the most part, Mellie (1876–1969) stayed in the family home after she married John James ("J.J.") White (1870–1932) in 1901. She inherited half of her father's share in the American Sisters Mine and served on the Georgetown Library Association from 1911–1922.

Mellie's husband, John James White Sr., bought the remaining stock of what was now called the Two American Sisters Mine. He managed construction of a dam and power plant north of Georgetown, and built a new shaft house and mill at the mine site. White, an attorney, practiced law, served as the Police Judge (Mayor) of Georgetown from 1900–1902, and was President of the Georgetown school board. The Bowman-White House still remains, and is registered as a historical site in Georgetown, Colorado.[7]

In the fall of 1867 discussions began about the formation of a town. On January 28, 1868, the Territorial Legislature passed a law incorporating the Town of Georgetown.

Georgetown Loop. The town experienced its greatest growth and prosperity during the Colorado silver boom of the 1880s when it rivaled Leadville
to the west as the mining capital of Colorado. At one time, before the collapse of the silver boom in 1893, the town population exceeded 10,000, and a movement arose briefly among local citizens to move the state capital there from Denver.

The frontier gambler, Poker Alice, lived for a time in Georgetown and in several other Colorado communities where she was considered an expert player and dealer.[8]

Following the collapse of the Silver Boom, the town population dwindled. In the 1950s the town began to experience a small renaissance as an

après-ski watering hole for the thousands of skiers who passed through the town on their way down from the mountains at the ski areas near Loveland Pass and Guanella Pass. Small craft shops began to set up businesses in the once decrepit 19th century storefronts. By the late 1960s, the establishment of a museum in one of the historic hotels had made the town a popular summer tourist destination where visitors could relive the experience of walking among structures from the mining boom. Furthermore, as the front range ski areas grow in popularity, the town makes for a good midway-stop for the returning skiers coming through I-70. More winter sports traffic comes from the nearby Otter Mountain
, and in the winter the town's hotels house many skiers.

The made-for-TV movie The Christmas Gift, starring John Denver, was filmed in Georgetown in 1986. The film is about a widower and his daughter who go to Georgetown for vacation and business and find the true meaning of Christmas.

Other movies filmed at least partly in Georgetown include the made-for-TV movies "Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo, and "Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin Deep Scandal"; and the feature film "Switchback" with Danny Glover and Dennis Quaid; and at least one scene from "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox", with Goldie Hawn and George Segal. In addition, it has been the site for the filming of various commercials, and some music videos, including part of John Tesh's "A Romantic Christmas."[9]

The Sonic Bloom Music Festival previously took place every June in Georgetown, but has been on hiatus since 2024.[10][11]

On February 19, 2020, a dog named Parker was sworn in as honorary mayor of Georgetown. He was unanimously elected by the town Board of Selectmen.[12]

Geography

Georgetown is located in the valley of Clear Creek. Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 6 run along the western edge of the town, with access from Exit 228. It is 45 miles (72 km) east to Denver and 22 miles (35 km) west across the Continental Divide to Silverthorne.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of 703 acres (2.845 km2) including 65 acres (0.262 km2) of water.[3]

Climate

According to the

warm-summer humid continental climate
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Climate data for Georgetown, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 60
(16) 		62
(17) 		68
(20) 		76
(24) 		83
(28) 		92
(33) 		92
(33) 		89
(32) 		86
(30) 		81
(27) 		70
(21) 		62
(17) 		92
(33)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 52.0
(11.1) 		51.9
(11.1) 		61.6
(16.4) 		65.9
(18.8) 		73.8
(23.2) 		83.9
(28.8) 		85.5
(29.7) 		82.4
(28.0) 		79.9
(26.6) 		72.7
(22.6) 		62.3
(16.8) 		52.1
(11.2) 		86.4
(30.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 36.4
(2.4) 		37.7
(3.2) 		44.5
(6.9) 		49.8
(9.9) 		59.6
(15.3) 		71.7
(22.1) 		77.1
(25.1) 		74.5
(23.6) 		68.3
(20.2) 		56.7
(13.7) 		44.2
(6.8) 		36.3
(2.4) 		54.7
(12.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.9
(−3.4) 		26.5
(−3.1) 		32.8
(0.4) 		37.9
(3.3) 		47.1
(8.4) 		57.0
(13.9) 		62.9
(17.2) 		60.5
(15.8) 		53.8
(12.1) 		43.5
(6.4) 		33.0
(0.6) 		25.9
(−3.4) 		42.2
(5.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 15.5
(−9.2) 		15.3
(−9.3) 		21.1
(−6.1) 		26.0
(−3.3) 		34.6
(1.4) 		42.4
(5.8) 		48.8
(9.3) 		46.5
(8.1) 		39.3
(4.1) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		21.9
(−5.6) 		15.4
(−9.2) 		29.8
(−1.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −3.1
(−19.5) 		−5.3
(−20.7) 		3.4
(−15.9) 		13.2
(−10.4) 		20.9
(−6.2) 		33.1
(0.6) 		40.5
(4.7) 		37.7
(3.2) 		28.4
(−2.0) 		13.6
(−10.2) 		4.6
(−15.2) 		−5.0
(−20.6) 		−9.6
(−23.1)
Record low °F (°C) −28
(−33) 		−25
(−32) 		−15
(−26) 		−8
(−22) 		7
(−14) 		24
(−4) 		31
(−1) 		29
(−2) 		8
(−13) 		−4
(−20) 		−16
(−27) 		−17
(−27) 		−28
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.81
(21) 		0.90
(23) 		1.39
(35) 		2.33
(59) 		2.13
(54) 		1.54
(39) 		2.49
(63) 		2.18
(55) 		1.52
(39) 		1.25
(32) 		0.89
(23) 		0.86
(22) 		18.29
(465)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 12.5
(32) 		12.6
(32) 		18.5
(47) 		20.9
(53) 		6.6
(17) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.6
(4.1) 		7.5
(19) 		11.1
(28) 		14.4
(37) 		105.9
(269.61)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.5 9.0 10.5 11.6 10.4 9.5 13.4 13.6 9.6 7.6 7.3 8.5 119.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 9.1 9.3 10.0 9.2 3.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.5 3.6 7.3 8.8 61.1
Source 1: NOAA[13]
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima 2006–2020)[14]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870802—
18803,294310.7%
18901,927−41.5%
19001,418−26.4%
1910950−33.0%
1920703−26.0%
1930303−56.9%
194039129.0%
1950329−15.9%
1960307−6.7%
197054276.5%
198083053.1%
19908917.3%
20001,08822.1%
20101,034−5.0%
20201,1188.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the

Latino
of any race were 4.41% of the population.

There were 503 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,969, and the median income for a family was $53,333. Males had a median income of $35,952 versus $28,068 for females. The

poverty line
, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

See also

Local publication

  • Historic Georgetown: Centennial Gazette 1868−1968

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. ^ 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 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 13, 1978. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2006.
  6. ^ a b "First settlers came to the Georgetown are in 1859" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Bowman/White Family Papers, WH32, Western History Collection, The Denver Public Library.
  8. ^ "Kathy Weiser, "Poker Alice - Famous Frontier Gambler"". legendsofamerica.com. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  9. ^ Personal knowledge from living there.
  10. ^ "Sonic Bloom Festival | June 2014 - Colorado's Premier Electronic Music Festival". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  11. ^ Staff, MFW (April 18, 2024). "Music Festivals Cancelled So Far In 2024 | MFW". Music Festival Wizard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Big Dog Wearing Tie Becomes Mayor of Small Colorado Town". People.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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