Ward, Colorado

Ward, Colorado
FIPS code		08-82735
GNIS feature ID	0178487[4]
Website	www.ward-co.org[dead link]

Ward is a

at an elevation of 9,450 feet (2,880 m) above sea level.

History

The town was named for Calvin Ward, who prospected a claim in 1860 on the site known as Miser's Dream.^[6] The town boomed the following year with the discovery by Cyrus W. Deardorff of the Columbia vein. Over the next several decades the population fluctuated, growing from several hundred to several thousand before declining once again. The mines in the area remained profitable for many decades, with one mine eventually producing over 2 million troy ounces (62 t) of silver. A post office with the name Ward District was established January 13, 1863; the name was changed to Ward, September 11, 1894.^[7] The city was incorporated in June 1896. The railroad reached the area in 1898, arriving over the Whiplash and Switzerland Trail, which climbed over 4,000 feet (1,200 m) from Boulder over the course of 26 miles (42 km). In January 1900 over 50 buildings were destroyed by a devastating fire, although the profitability of the mines led to the immediate rebuilding of the town. The town was largely deserted by the 1920s, but the construction of the Peak-to-Peak Highway in the 1930s led to a revival of the town. During WWII the town's year-round population dropped to four people. Then, in the 1960s, the town's population jumped from between 10 and 20 year-round residents to well over 100 due to the town's interest to hippies.^{[citation needed]}

The town has several businesses along its main street, including a restaurant, a coffee shop, an art gallery, and general store.

Geography

Ward is located at 40°4′20″N 105°30′36″W / 40.07222°N 105.51000°W / 40.07222; -105.51000 (40.072347, -105.510131).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	424		—
1900	300		−29.2%
1910	129		−57.0%
1920	74		−42.6%
1930	34		−54.1%
1940	118		247.1%
1950	10		−91.5%
1960	9		−10.0%
1970	32		255.6%
1980	129		303.1%
1990	159		23.3%
2000	169		6.3%
2010	150		−11.2%
2020	128		−14.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the

, and 1.18% from two or more races.

There were 75 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2 and the average family size was 2.67.

The age of the town's populace was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 32% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 154.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $50,313. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $28,750 for females. The

.

Notable people

• Hazel Schmoll, botanist

See also

• Outline of Colorado
  • Index of Colorado-related articles
• State of Colorado
  • Colorado cities and towns
    • Colorado municipalities
  • Colorado counties
    • Boulder County, Colorado
  • List of statistical areas in Colorado
    • Front Range Urban Corridor
    • North Central Colorado Urban Area
    • Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area
    • Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Roosevelt National Forest
• 2013 Colorado floods

References

External links

• Town contacts Archived April 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
• CDOT map of Ward
• Ward, Colorado: a slice of Appalachia in the Rockies
• Ghosttowns.com: Ward, Colorado
• Ward, Colorado, a revitalized gold-mining ghost town