Silver Plume, Colorado
Silver Plume is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Silver Plume is a former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The federally designated Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District comprises Silver Plume, the neighboring town of Georgetown, and the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park between the two towns.
Town of Silver Plume, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Train station in Silver Plume | |
 Location of Silver Plume in Clear Creek County, Colorado. | |
| Coordinates: 39°41′45″N 105°43′34″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  State of Colorado |
| County[1] | Clear Creek County |
| Incorporated | September 24, 1880[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.26 sq mi (0.68 km2) |
| • Land | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 9,101 ft (2,774 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 207 |
| • Density | 800/sq mi (300/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code[6] | 80476 |
| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-70360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0181905 |
| Website | silverplumetown |
The town population was 207 at the 2020 census.[5] The Silver Plume Post Office has the ZIP code 80476.[6]
Geography
Silver Plume is located in the valley of Clear Creek at 39°41′45″N 105°43′34″W (39.695919, -105.726066).[7] Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 6 pass through the town, with access from Exit 226. It is 20 miles (32 km) west across the Continental Divide to Silverthorne and 46 miles (74 km) east to Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Silver Plume has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2), all of it land.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Silver Plume has a subarctic climate, abbreviated "Dfc" on climate maps.
| Climate data for Cabin Creek, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 56 (13) |
55 (13) |
65 (18) |
64 (18) |
75 (24) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
57 (14) |
85 (29) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48.4 (9.1) |
47.0 (8.3) |
53.1 (11.7) |
58.0 (14.4) |
66.9 (19.4) |
75.4 (24.1) |
77.0 (25.0) |
74.6 (23.7) |
71.9 (22.2) |
65.6 (18.7) |
54.6 (12.6) |
48.1 (8.9) |
77.7 (25.4) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 31.8 (−0.1) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
37.9 (3.3) |
42.8 (6.0) |
52.6 (11.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
67.1 (19.5) |
61.2 (16.2) |
49.8 (9.9) |
39.2 (4.0) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
48.3 (9.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
32.8 (0.4) |
41.9 (5.5) |
52.2 (11.2) |
57.4 (14.1) |
55.6 (13.1) |
49.4 (9.7) |
39.2 (4.0) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
37.5 (3.1) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 12.0 (−11.1) |
11.5 (−11.4) |
16.9 (−8.4) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
40.1 (4.5) |
45.5 (7.5) |
44.0 (6.7) |
37.6 (3.1) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
12.2 (−11.0) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −8.1 (−22.3) |
−8.5 (−22.5) |
−2.4 (−19.1) |
4.6 (−15.2) |
16.2 (−8.8) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
37.2 (2.9) |
35.8 (2.1) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
−2.7 (−19.3) |
−8.9 (−22.7) |
−13.6 (−25.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−28 (−33) |
−20 (−29) |
−14 (−26) |
2 (−17) |
18 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
24 (−4) |
9 (−13) |
−9 (−23) |
−21 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
−28 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.99 (25) |
1.23 (31) |
2.04 (52) |
2.79 (71) |
2.15 (55) |
1.55 (39) |
2.77 (70) |
2.63 (67) |
1.63 (41) |
1.40 (36) |
1.31 (33) |
1.16 (29) |
21.65 (549) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.9 (40) |
19.3 (49) |
24.9 (63) |
28.4 (72) |
11.9 (30) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
2.1 (5.3) |
10.4 (26) |
20.1 (51) |
20.3 (52) |
153.7 (389.31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.7 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 9.3 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 111.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.8 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 58.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[8] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[9] | |||||||||||||
History
The town of Silver Plume has a very rich history. That history can be viewed by the general public either at the George Rowe Museum, which is in the original school house of the town, or by walking the 7:30 Mine Trail, which gives the individual a grand view of the Silver Plume valley and the town nestled at its base.
Many tales circulate about the town. One involves its naming. According to records and legends, Louis Dupuy, the owner of the Hotel De Paris, was also a newspaper editor for the town. When miners from Silver Plume brought him samples of the town's ore and asked him what they should name the small camp, he allegedly wrote a short poem on the spot:
Knights today are miners bold,
Who delve in deep mines' gloom,
To honor men who dig for gold,
For ladies whom their arms enfold,
We'll name the town Silver Plume!
Many other legends abound about the small "Living Ghost Town". One involves a much-beloved citizen from the mining days, Clifford Griffin. According to legend, Mr. Griffin came from the state of New York, where he was raised. Griffin became engaged in New York, but his fiancée tragically, and mysteriously, died the night before their wedding. Her death was contributed to unnameable "natural causes", and to escape the painful memories of his beloved, he moved to Colorado with his brother, who eventually became the owner of the 7:30 Mine (so named because their day shift started a generous hour later than the other mines, who started at 6:30 AM). Clifford became the manager of the 7:30, and was much loved by his miners for his kindness. According to local legend, every Christmas he bought all his miners a goose for their families, and every Fourth of July, he paid off every bar between Silver Plume and current-day Bakerville 4 miles (6 km) to the west, so his miners could enjoy their holiday without spending their family's money. Not only did he take care of his miners, every evening he provided them with entertainment as well. Since he could not bear the daily sight of his men with their wives and families after his tragedy, he spent a great deal of time near the entrance to the 7:30, which sits about 1,500 feet (460 m) above the town of Silver Plume. Every evening he would sit near the edge of a nearby cliff and play his violin. Due to the incredible acoustics of the valley, the entire town could step outside and listen to his concerts. According to local legend, one evening, after a particularly beautiful recital, the residents heard a gunshot. Assuming the worst, the miners of the 7:30 raced up the trail to the entrance, and there they found Clifford Griffin, shot through the heart, in a grave he'd dug himself. A note in the nearby Manager's Office told the tale. It asked the residents of Silver Plume to leave him where he lay, because that's where he'd experienced the most happiness since his wife died. Not only did they follow his request, the town erected a 10-foot-tall Gunnison Granite monument in his honor, directly on top of his grave site. The monument can still be seen today, on the cliffs directly in front of the 7:30 Mine.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 908 | — | |
| 1900 | 775 | −14.6% | |
| 1910 | 460 | −40.6% | |
| 1920 | 272 | −40.9% | |
| 1930 | 126 | −53.7% | |
| 1940 | 139 | 10.3% | |
| 1950 | 136 | −2.2% | |
| 1960 | 86 | −36.8% | |
| 1970 | 164 | 90.7% | |
| 1980 | 140 | −14.6% | |
| 1990 | 134 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 203 | 51.5% | |
| 2010 | 170 | −16.3% | |
| 2020 | 207 | 21.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
See also
References
- "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
- "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- United States Census Bureau. "Silver Plume town; Colorado". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. May 25, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.</
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  Map of Colorado highlighting Clear Creek County | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns |
| |
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |