Cañon City, Colorado Explained

Cañon City, Colorado
Settlement Type:Home rule municipality[1]
Nicknames:Climate Capital of Colorado
Motto:Gateway to the Authentic West
Flag Size:150px
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the City of Cañon City in the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Fremont County[2]
Government Type:Home rule municipality
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Preston Troutman
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1860
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:April 3, 1872[3]
Unit Pref:US
Total Type:Total
Area Footnotes:[4]
Area Total Km2:32.127
Area Land Km2:32.095
Area Water Km2:0.032
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:17,141
Population Density Sq Mi:1,383
Population Metro:48,939
Population Blank1 Title:CSA
Population Blank1:217,101
Population Blank2 Title:Front Range
Population Blank2:5,055,344
Timezone1:MST
Utc Offset1:−07:00
Timezone1 Dst:MDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:−06:00
Coordinates:38.4431°N -105.2203°W
Coordinates Footnotes:[5]
Elevation Ft:5312
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes[6]
Postal Code:81212, 81215 (PO Box)
Area Code:719
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:08-11810
Blank1 Name:GNIS ID
Blank1 Info:2409976
Blank1 Name Sec2:Major Routes

Cañon City [7] is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Fremont County, Colorado, United States.[1] [8] The city population was 17,141 at the 2020 United States Census.[4] Cañon City is the principal city of the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area and is a part of the Front Range Urban Corridor. Cañon City straddles the easterly flowing Arkansas River and is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing. The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths.[9] In 1994, the United States Board on Geographic Names approved adding the tilde to the official name of Cañon City, a change from Canon City as the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975. It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the Spanish Ñ in its name, others being La Cañada Flintridge, California; Española, New Mexico; Peñasco, New Mexico; and Peñitas, Texas.

History

See also: Early history of Fremont County, Colorado. Cañon City was laid out on January 17, 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for mining in South Park and the upper Arkansas River.[10]

1860s to 1900

In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the Second Colorado Infantry during the American Civil War. This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearby New Mexico and as far east as the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Missouri before ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for petroleum 6miles north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of, and he completed the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi River. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refined kerosene and fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products in Denver.[11]

A number of metal ore smelters were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at Cripple Creek in 1891.

Historical designations

The Cañon City Downtown Historic District is an historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Geography

Cañon City is located in eastern Fremont County. It sits primarily on the north side of the Arkansas River, just east of where the river exits from Royal Gorge. It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of Lincoln Park. Via U.S. Route 50, Pueblo is to the east and Poncha Springs is to the west. Colorado Springs is to the northeast.

At the 2020 United States Census, the city had a total area of 32.127km2 including 0.032km2 of water.[4]

Climate

The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and 5300feet elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is warmer in Cañon City than in Grand Junction, even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.[12]

The average minimum temperature in January is . During July, overnight lows are on average. Cañon City has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Neighborhoods

As Cañon City has grown, the city has both annexed surrounding communities and developed new subdivisions to create the city that exists today.

Parks and recreation

Cañon City is home to many city-owned parks, as well as parks owned by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District.

City-owned parks

Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District

The Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, commonly called the Rec District, was created in 1965[13] to better serve the community's recreational needs with parks, the R.C. Icabone Pool (a public swimming pool), a dog park, an archery range and a ropes course along with a rec district office with a community room.

The following parks are operated and owned by the Rec District:

In addition, the city maintains the Tunnel Drive Trail, a four-mile long out-and-back trail that follows the course of an old irrigation canal. The trailhead is located at the west end of Tunnel Drive, just inside the city limits.

The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in the name of Guy U. Hardy to recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in the Royal Gorge area.[14]

Demographics

As of the 2020 census,[15] there were 17,141 people residing in the city. The population density was 1312.1PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 1.0% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.2% of the population. There were 7,448 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.05.

The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18 and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. Women represent 52% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,464. The per capita income for the city was $25,232. About 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line.

Law

Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and a municipal court, Cañon City is home to the courts for Fremont County and the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".[16]

Government

Cañon City is governed via the Council–manager government system. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. The mayor is elected by the entire city.

Economy

The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching, and farming, but has largely grown to rely on the large number of state and federal prisons in the area, as well as to tourism, education, manufacturing, medicine and many other sectors.

Major employers

Cañon City depends on the Colorado Department of Corrections and federal prison system, and its tourism industry which includes the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Red Canyon Park, The Abbey winery, and various other attractions. The major local employers include downtown shops, the entrepreneurial TechSTART initiative that attracts major technology-based entrepreneurs, and Centura Health (owner of St. Thomas More Hospital and the Progressive Care Center).

Prisons

Prisons have served an important significance to both Cañon City and the surrounding areas of Fremont County, as well as to the state of Colorado. The Museum of Colorado Prisons has been given the role of preserving and presenting the past of the state's corrections system. Colorado Department of Corrections operates the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City.[17] In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in unincorporated areas in Fremont County, Colorado State Penitentiary, the location of the state death row and execution chamber[18] is in Fremont County.[19] Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,[20] Centennial Correctional Facility,[21] Fremont Correctional Facility,[22] Four Mile Correctional Center,[23] ADX Florence,and Skyline Correctional Center.[24]

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.[25]

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.[26] [27]

Tourism

From Cañon City's Downtown Historic District located in the heart of the city to the Royal Gorge Bridge, there are many places to see and visit in the area.

Media

Cañon City is home to a daily newspaper, called the Cañon City Daily Record; an FM radio station, Star Country 104.5 FM; and a long-running AM radio station, known as KRLN NewsRadio 1400 AM.

Transportation

Transportation in the Cañon City area consists of cab service, shuttle bus service, and a downtown wagon ride. The Royal Gorge Bridge trolley had also been used during special events (it was destroyed in the Royal Gorge Fire, but it was reserved for use by the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Jeep tours and Segway tours are also available to explore local parks such as Red Canyon Park or scenic places such as Skyline Drive.

The town is served by the Fremont County airport (1V6) which is 6 miles to the East and currently has no scheduled passenger service.[28] Within an hour's drive is the Colorado Springs airport with daily service by major airlines.

Major roads and highways

The area is served by one state and one U.S. highway with a mix of city and county roads to navigate the city or connect to neighboring areas.

State and national highways

City and county roads

Bus service

Scenic routes

Railroads

Education

See also Cañon City School DistrictCañon City's school system is under the direction of the Cañon City School District Fremont RE-1.[30] The district currently has four elementary schools, one charter school, one school serving as both an elementary school and middle school, one middle school and one high school, Cañon City High School.

For the higher education needs of the community, Pueblo Community College provides a branch campus on the west end of the city along U.S. Highway 50.

Places of interest

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Other sites

Defunct sites

Notable people

In popular culture

The movie Canon City (1948) depicts the real-life 1947 escape of 12 prisoners from nearby Colorado State Penitentiary.[31]

A diner in Cañon City is the setting of the song "Navajo Rug", which was named by the Western Writers of America as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.[32]

A fictional version of the city is depicted in Philip K. Dick's alternate history novel The Man in the High Castle (1963) and its eponymous 2015 television series adaptation. Cañon City is in an ostensibly-demilitarized "neutral zone" between the puppet regimes of the Japanese Pacific States, in the west, and Greater Nazi Reich, in the east, in the former United States.[33]

In the manga series jojos bizarre adventure canon city is featured in chapter 32 of the steel ball run or chapter seven hundred eighty-four of the manga https://jojowiki.com/SBR_Chapter_32#Cover_A-1

Sister cities

See also: List of sister cities in Colorado. Cañon City's sister cities are:[34]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Active Colorado Municipalities. Colorado Department of Local Affairs. October 15, 2021.
  2. Web site: Colorado Counties. State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. January 25, 2021.
  3. Web site: Colorado Municipal Incorporations . State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives . December 1, 2004 . September 2, 2007.
  4. Web site: Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data. United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. September 7, 2021.
  5. Web site: 2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places . . July 1, 2014 . January 5, 2015 .
  6. Web site: ZIP Code Lookup . . September 7, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070903025217/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp . September 3, 2007 .
  7. January 8, 2024. New details released in Cañon City manhunt. KOAA5. YouTube. May 2, 2024 . 00:04.
  8. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  9. Welch. Michael. Turner. Fatiniyah. Private Corrections, Financial Infrastructure, and Transportation: The New Geo-Economy of Shipping Prisoners. Social Justice. 2007. 34. 3. 57. 29768464.
  10. "Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City Times, November 10, 1860, p.4.
  11. Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960), Historical summary, in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.
  12. Web site: United States of America Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase). Weatherbase.
  13. Web site: Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District: About Us. February 5, 2014.
  14. News: Nominees for the Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation are due Sunday . November 25, 2019 . Cañon City Daily Record . February 3, 2020 . en-US.
  15. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 26, 2022 .
  16. News: America's cheeriest prison town does not want to lock more people up. The Economist. August 10, 2017.
  17. "Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."
  18. "Death Row FAQ." (Archive) Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  19. "Colorado State Penitentiary ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  20. "Arrowhead Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  21. "Centennial Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  22. "Fremont Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  23. "Four Mile Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  24. "Skyline Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  25. Web site: 1929 Colorado State Penitentiary riot. The Archive.
  26. Mitchell, Kirk. "Cañon City women's prison closes today." The Denver Post. June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  27. "GDE Testing Centers by City ." Colorado Department of Education. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."
  28. Web site: Airport . https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080418/https://www.fremontco.com/airport/ . dead . February 13, 2018 .
  29. Web site: Bustang Schedule . RideBustang . CDOT.
  30. Web site: Cañon City Schools. November 11, 2013.
  31. Book: Canon City. IMDb. June 30, 1948. February 6, 2016.
  32. Web site: The Top 100 Western Songs . Western Writers of America . 2010 . Western Writers of America . American Cowboy . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019002745/http://americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs . October 19, 2010 . dead .
  33. News: Enger. Jeremy. Red, Reich and Blue: Building the World of 'The Man in the High Castle'. The New York Times. November 19, 2015. February 23, 2016.
  34. Web site: Sister Cities: Valdai, Novgorod Oblast, Russia. canoncity.org. Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center. November 21, 2018. January 18, 2021.