Chris Bettin
Durangotan (informal) Durangatang (informal)
Durango is the county seat and the most populous municipality of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. It is home to Fort Lewis College. The United States Census Bureau reported a population of 16,887 in the 2010 census.[9]
History
The town was organized in September 1880 to serve the San Juan mining district. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) chose the site on the Animas River for its depot following a brief and most likely perfunctory negotiation with Animas City, two miles to the north.[10] The city was named by ex-Colorado Governor Alexander C. Hunt after Durango, Mexico, based on his favorable impression of that city resulting from a scouting trip undertaken on behalf of William J. Palmer, the head of the D&RG.
Area archaeological sites on the State and National historical registers include:
- Mesa Verde National Park, a World Heritage site
- Chimney Rock National Monument, the most northeastern known outpost of the Ancestral Puebloans
- Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site, a Basketmaker and Pueblo culture
- Spring Creek Archeological District, a Basketmaker and Pueblo site
- Talus Village, a Basketmaker site
Geography
Durango is located at 37°16′N 107°52′W / 37.267°N 107.867°W at an elevation of 6,512 ft (1,988 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (18 km2).
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Durango has either a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) or a humid continental climate (Dsb) depending on which variant of the system is used. The average annual precipitation is 19.33 in (491 mm).[11] Its hardiness zone is 5b.[12]
- Paco Ahlgren, writer
- Ross Anderson, World Cup/professional speed skier, All-American record holder
- Steve Carlton, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
- James Garesche Ord, United States Army Major General, born at Fort Lewis near Durango
- Missy Giove, cyclist inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
- Howard Grotts, cyclist
- Greg Herbold, cyclist inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
- Sepp Kuss, cyclist
- Matt Miller, NFL offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns
- Ned Overend, cyclist inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
- Stuart Roosa, NASA astronaut and former USFS Smoke Jumper, carried Redwood seeds on the Apollo 14 Moon mission which are now planted in several US parks
- Ed Stasium, record producer
- Tom Tully, actor, Oscar nominee for The Caine Mutiny
- Shan Wells, sculptor and illustrator
- Todd Wells, cyclist
Sister cities
Durango has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
References in television and film
- Much of the 1953 western movie The Naked Spur starring James Stewart was shot in Durango.[19]
- Several parts of the 1955 western film Run for Cover starring James Cagney, were filmed just north of Durango in and around the upper Hermosa Valley area.[20]
- Portions of the 1957 western Night Passage starring a returning James Stewart, as well as Audie Murphy and Brandon DeWilde were filmed near Durango and on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.[21]
- In 1965, Rosemary DeCamp played Durango newspaper editor Caroline Romney in the episode, "Mrs. Romney and the Outlaws" of the syndicated television series, Death Valley Days. In the story line, Romney sounds the alarm for citizens to fight the Kimball/Sykes gang. Willard Sage played Marshal Christy.[22]
- Parts of the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were filmed north of town along the Animas River.[23][24]
- The television series Cannon, episode "Sky Above, Death Below" was filmed in and around Durango, Purgatory Resort, and Chimney Rock.[25]
- Part of the 1991 film City Slickers was shot in Durango.[26]
- The 1999 movie Durango Kids describes a time tunnel in the old mines outside of Durango.[27]
- Parts of the 1993 film Cliffhanger were shot in Durango.[28]
- The 1978 Roger Corman film Avalanche, starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, was filmed mainly at Durango Mountain Resort and at the Lodge at Tamarron in north Durango.[29]
See also
- Outline of Colorado
- State of Colorado
- Durango Herald
- Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad National Historic District
- Durango Telegraph
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
References
- ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ a b c "Current City Council". City of Durango.
- ^ "Current City Council". City of Durango. Archived from the original on 2010-11-22.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-
There were 5,492 households, out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a single female householder, and 52.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city, 16.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 26.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,892, and the median income for a family was $50,814. Males had a median income of $31,812 versus $25,022 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,352. 17.2% of the population and 7.3% of families were living below the poverty line. 11.2% of those younger than 18 and 8.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Main Avenue is a Nationally Registered Historic District that cuts through downtown Durango and is home to galleries, boutiques, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. Two notable and historic hotels, The General Palmer and The Strater, lie at the south end of the avenue, near the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot. With its combination of historic architecture, entertainment, and shopping, Main Avenue has historically comprised the center of Durango and is a popular year-round tourist destination.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Durango is known worldwide for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a heritage railway that travels from Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado via steam-powered trains. The history of the town and the D&SNG are inextricably woven, dating back to the 1880s.
Animas River Valley
The Animas River Valley begins in the heart of the San Juan Mountains and runs through downtown Durango. It boasts gold medal fly fishing waters and is popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing. On warm summer after
Durango is known worldwide for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a heritage railway that travels from Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado via steam-powered trains. The history of the town and the D&SNG are inextricably woven, dating back to the 1880s.
Animas River Valley
The Animas River Valley begins in the heart of the San Juan Mountains a
The Animas River Valley begins in the heart of the San Juan Mountains and runs through downtown Durango. It boasts gold medal fly fishing waters and is popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing. On warm summer afternoons a popular diversion is to buy an inflated inner tube and float from Animas City to Schneider Park or below.
Purgatory Resort
Purgatory Resort, located 25 miles north of downtown Durango, has 99 trails, 12 lifts, a vertical drop of over 2,000 feet, and more than 1,500 acres of skiable terrain. The resort features lodging, ski rentals, shopping, and dining. Purgatory is also a popular summertime recreation destination.
Snowdown FestivalDurango is home to Snowdown, an annual midwinter event popular for its Parade of Lights and other events. The event lasts 5 days, with competitions and costumes.
Music in the Mountains
Transportation
- Much of the 1953 western movie The Naked Spur starring James Stewart was shot in Durango.[19]
- Several parts of the 1955 western film Run for Cover starring James Cagney, were filmed just north of Durango in and around the upper Hermosa Valley area.[20]
- Portions of the 1957 western Night Passage starring a returning James Stewart, as well as Audie Murphy and Brandon DeWilde were filmed near Durango and on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.[21]
- In 1965, Rosemary DeCamp played Durango newspaper editor Caroline Romney in the episode, "Mrs. Romney and the Outlaws" of the syndicated television series, Death Valley Days. In the story line, Romney sounds the alarm for citizens to fight the Kimball/Sykes gang. Willard Sage played Marshal Christy.[22]
- Parts of the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were filmed north of town along the Animas River.[23][24]
- The television series Cannon, episode "Sky Above, Death Below" was filmed in and around Durango, Purgatory Resort, and Chimney Rock.[25]
- Part of the 1991 film City Slickers was shot in Durango.[26]
- The 1999 movie Durango Kids describes a time tunnel in the old mines outside of Durango.[27]
- Parts of the 1993 film Cliffhanger were shot in Durango.[28]
- The 1978 Roger Corman film Avalanche, starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, was filmed mainly at Durango Mountain Resort and at the Lodge at Tamarron in north Durango.[29]
See also