Idaho Springs, Colorado

The City of Idaho Springs is the statutory city that is the most populous municipality in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Idaho Springs is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 1,782.[7] Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some 30 miles (50 km) west of Denver.

Idaho Springs, Colorado
Statutory City[1]
City of Idaho Springs[1]
Aerial view of Idaho Springs from the east in 2006.
Aerial view of Idaho Springs from the east in 2006.
Location of the City of Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
Location of the City of Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
Idaho Springs is located in the United States
Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs
Location of the City of Idaho Springs in the United States.
Coordinates: 39°44′33″N 105°30′49″W[2]
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyClear Creek County[3]
CityIdaho Springs[1]
Founded1859
Incorporated1885-11-15[4]
Government
 • TypeStatutory City[1]
 • MayorChuck Harmon[5]
Area
[6]
 • Total2.28 sq mi (5.92 km2)
 • Land2.25 sq mi (5.83 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
[2]
7,526 ft (2,294 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • Total1,782
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code[8]
80452
Area code(s)303 and 720
FIPS code08-38370
GNIS feature ID204710[2]
Websitewww.colorado.gov/idahosprings

Founded 164 years ago in 1859 by prospectors during the early days of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, the town was at the center of the region's mining district throughout the late nineteenth century. The Argo Tunnel drained and provided access to many lodes of ore between Idaho Springs and Central City. During the late twentieth century, the town evolved into a tourist center along U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 40, which ascend Clear Creek Canyon through the historic mining district.

The town today is squeezed along the north side of Interstate 70, with a historical downtown in the central portion, a strip of tourist-related businesses on its eastern end, and mostly residences on its western end. It also serves as a bedroom community for workers at the Loveland Ski Area farther up the canyon. The town today is the largest community in Clear Creek County, but, for historical reasons, the county seat has remained at Georgetown.

History
Bird's eye view of Idaho Springs Colorado, 1882.

On January 5, 1859, during the Colorado gold rush, prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado. Jackson, a Missouri native with experience in the California gold fields, was drawn to the area by clouds of steam rising from some nearby hot springs. Jackson kept his find secret for several months, but after he paid for some supplies with gold dust, others rushed to Jackson's diggings.[9] The location was originally known as "Jackson's Diggings". Once the location became a permanent settlement, it was variously called "Sacramento City", "Idahoe", "Idaho", "Idaho City", and finally "Idaho Springs".[10]

The first placer discoveries were soon followed by discoveries of gold veins in the rocks of the canyon walls on both sides of Clear Creek. Hard rock mining became the mainstay of the town long after the gold-bearing gravels were exhausted.

The Idaho Springs miners' strike of 1903 demanding an eight-hour day erupted into violence in May 1903. This was a conflict was a part the much broader Colorado Labor Wars, where the Western Federation of Miners sought to pressure mining companies into improving conditions for miners.

The 1969 film Downhill Racer portrayed an alpine ski racer from Idaho Springs, played by Robert Redford; a brief scene was shot on location in Idaho Springs. Several scenes from the comedy film The Overbrook Brothers were filmed here in the spring of 2008.

Geography
Reproduction of ink rendering; shows Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado.

Idaho Springs is located in northeastern Clear Creek County along Clear Creek near the confluence of its tributary, Chicago Creek.[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.09 km2), or 1.53%, is water.[12]

Climate

Idaho Springs has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) with moderately cold winters and warm summers with cool nights. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 72 inches (183 cm).[13]

Climate data for Idaho Springs, Colorado (Elevation 7,555ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)		 67
(19)		 73
(23)		 78
(26)		 89
(32)		 95
(35)		 93
(34)		 91
(33)		 92
(33)		 83
(28)		 73
(23)		 66
(19)		 95
(35)
Average high °F (°C) 38.8
(3.8)		 40.9
(4.9)		 45.5
(7.5)		 53.6
(12.0)		 62.1
(16.7)		 72.8
(22.7)		 77.4
(25.2)		 76.1
(24.5)		 69.8
(21.0)		 59.3
(15.2)		 47.3
(8.5)		 39.9
(4.4)		 57.0
(13.9)
Average low °F (°C) 15.1
(−9.4)		 16.0
(−8.9)		 19.8
(−6.8)		 27.0
(−2.8)		 34.4
(1.3)		 41.8
(5.4)		 47.6
(8.7)		 46.4
(8.0)		 39.1
(3.9)		 30.4
(−0.9)		 22.3
(−5.4)		 16.5
(−8.6)		 29.7
(−1.3)
Record low °F (°C) −32
(−36)		 −29
(−34)		 −23
(−31)		 −6
(−21)		 8
(−13)		 23
(−5)		 28
(−2)		 28
(−2)		 14
(−10)		 −5
(−21)		 −21
(−29)		 −24
(−31)		 −32
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.33
(8.4)		 0.50
(13)		 0.90
(23)		 1.78
(45)		 1.94
(49)		 1.50
(38)		 2.59
(66)		 2.05
(52)		 1.36
(35)		 0.99
(25)		 0.64
(16)		 0.47
(12)		 15.05
(382)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.4
(14)		 8.5
(22)		 12.3
(31)		 15.1
(38)		 5.2
(13)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.9
(4.8)		 7.4
(19)		 8.6
(22)		 7.2
(18)		 72.0
(183)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870229—
1880733220.1%
18901,33882.5%
19002,50287.0%
19102,154−13.9%
19201,192−44.7%
19301,2071.3%
19402,11275.0%
19501,769−16.2%
19601,480−16.3%
19702,00335.3%
19802,0773.7%
19901,834−11.7%
20001,8893.0%
20101,717−9.1%
20201,7823.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
Colorado and Southern Railroad locomotive on exhibit in Idaho Springs


Education

Idaho Springs Public Schools are part of the Clear Creek School District RE-1. There are two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one charter school. Students attend Clear Creek High School.

Carlson Elementary School is located in Idaho Springs.

Karen Quanbeck is the Interim Superintendent of Schools.[15]

Culture

Idaho Springs is the birthplace of Colorado-style pizza.[16][17]

Transportation

Idaho Springs is incorporated into the Colorado Department of Transportation's Bustang network. It is part of the West Line, which connects Denver to Grand Junction.[18]

Beaus of Holly, a -TV Christmas movie produced in 2020 for the ION Channel, was filmed in Idaho Springs. The fictional mining town of Haven Springs in the video game Life Is Strange: True Colors is inspired by Idaho Springs.[19]

Notable people

Points of interest
  • Argo Gold Mine and Mill - The mill and museum are open for tours.[20]
  • Statue of cartoon character Steve Canyon[21]
  • The Charlie Taylor Water Wheel - a water wheel built by miner Charlie Taylor in 1893 to power a stamp mill. Moved to its present location south of US 6 and US 40 in 1948 and restored in 1988. Fed by Bridal Veil Falls, a small waterfall, visible to the south of eastbound I-70.[22]
  • Mount Blue Sky - The mountain is located about 28 miles south of Idaho Springs.
  • Indian Hot Springs[23]

See also

References
  1. "Active List of municipalities in Colorado". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Idaho Springs, Colorado
  3. "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  5. "City Council - City of Idaho Springs". City of Idaho Springs. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  6. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. United States Census Bureau. "Idaho Springs city; Colorado". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  8. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  9. Robert L. Brown (1985) The Great Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Caldwell, Ida.: Caxton, p.26-32.
  10. "US Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System". Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  11. Idaho Springs, Colorado, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1957 (1987 rev.)
  12. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Idaho Springs city, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  13. "IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  14. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  15. "Middle school principal named interim superintendent". Clear Creek Courant. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  16. "The Wild and Woolly Story of Colorado-Style Pizza - PMQ Pizza Magazine". www.pmq.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  17. seth.boster@gazette.com, Seth Boster (January 14, 2022). "The unlikely story of how 'Colorado-style' pizza was born | Craving Colorado". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  18. "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.
  19. "Beaus of Holly (2020 TV Movie) Filming & Production". IMDB.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  20. "Argo Mine". Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2007.
  21. "Steve Canyon".
  22. "Historic Clear Creek County". Clear Creek 365. Clear Creek County. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  23. Berman, Joshua (December 4, 2018). "5 hot springs around Colorado to keep you warm this winter". The Know - special to The Denver Post. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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