Agate, Colorado Explained

Agate, Colorado
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Colorado
Pushpin Label:Agate
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Colorado
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Elbert County[1]
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:about 1876[2]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:-7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:-6
Coordinates:39.4619°N -103.9419°W
Elevation M:1660
Elevation Ft:5446
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:80101[3]
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:0204818

Agate is an unincorporated community and U.S. Post Office in Elbert County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Agate Post Office is 80101.[3]

History

The town of Gebhard was established by the Union Pacific Railroad about 1876.[2] The Gebhard Post Office opened on April 8, 1881.[4] The name of the town was changed to Agate on April 24, 1882.[4] Although "Gebhard" was established by the UPRR, the town of Agate existed, by that name, as a locality used by local ranchers prior to the construction of the railroad. The town's name most probably comes from an "A-gate" – a wooden gate with an A-shaped cross-brace, but is sometimes claimed to be named for agate found in the area. The northeasternmost community in Elbert County, Agate is a ranching community and the home of Agate School District 300, one of the smallest school districts in Colorado.

Geography

Agate is located at (39.461909,-103.941822). Agate is located on one of the four segments of old US 40/US 287 (now State Highway 40) just off Interstate 70 at exit 340, and along the Union Pacific Railroad line between Limon and Aurora. It is located approximately 12 miles SSE of Deer Trail. The town is located on a NNW-SSE ridge bounded by an unnamed ravine separating it from the ridge on which I-70 is constructed, and by the Agate Creek valley to the west, and is divided by the railroad tracks. The school, post office, and a number of businesses and homes are located east of the tracks, and a grain elevator and a few houses to the west of the tracks. In recent years, several small subdivisions have been platted and homes constructed in the general area.

Cemeteries

Emergency Services

Agate Fire Department[5]

Community Websites

Community Website for Elbert County, Colorado[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  2. Book: Eichler, Geo. R. . Colorado Place Names . Johnson Publishing Company . 1977 . 77-089726 .
  3. Web site: ZIP Code Lookup . . . September 2, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070903025217/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp . September 3, 2007 . dead . mdy .
  4. Book: Bauer, William H. . James L. Ozment. John H. Willard . Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989 . . 1990 . 90-34759 . 0-918654-42-4 .
  5. Web site: Home . agatefire.org.
  6. http://www.elbertcountycolorado.net