Buena Vista, Colorado

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Town of Buena Vista, Colorado
Statutory Town
Town Hall
Town Hall
Motto(s): 
"8,000 Feet Above Average"
Location of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Location of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 38°49′46″N 106°08′22″W / 38.829332°N 106.139515°W / 38.829332; -106.139515Coordinates: 38°49′46″N 106°08′22″W / 38.829332°N 106.139515°W / 38.829332; -106.139515[2]
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyChaffee County[1]
IncorporatedNovember 8, 1879[3]
Government
 • TypeStatutory Town[1]
Area
 • Total3.45 sq mi (8.94 km2)
 • Land3.45 sq mi (8.94 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
7,965 ft (2,428 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,617
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
2,866
 • Density830.24/sq mi (320.51/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
81211[6]
Area code(s)719
FIPS code08-10105
GNIS feature ID0189268
Websitewww.buenavistaco.gov

The Town of Buena Vista (/ˈbjuːnə ˈvɪstə/)[7] is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,617 at the 2010 United States Census.[8]

History[edit]

The Arkansas River Valley and the area of what would become Buena Vista was first settled in 1864 by settlers drawn to the area by the plentiful water which made the land suitable for agriculture.[9] By 1880, the county seat had moved from Granite to Buena Vista, but by 1928 Salida had a larger population so the county seat was moved once again. By 1894, Buena Vista had electricity, telephone service, street lights, parks, cemeteries, and schools.[9] Travelers, speculators, and miners traveling up the Arkansas Valley towards Leadville made Buena Vista a popular stagecoach stop, and railroad depot following the 1890s. While certainly experiencing economic ups and downs, the valley's agricultural economy has made the area more resistant to the 'boom, bust' cycle of mining towns.

Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of 7,965 feet (2,428 m). The area between Buena Vista and Salida is often referred to as the Denver & Rio Grande, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado Midland railroads. Many of the existing buildings of Buena Vista date back to this era, and were built in the 1880s and 1890s.

The name "Buena Vista", Spanish for "Good View", can often be heard pronounced locally as "Byoo-na Vista". This Americanized pronunciation was specified by Alsina Dearheimer, who chose this name for the town, which was officially selected over other names (Cottonwood, Mahonville) on the occasion of the town's incorporation. Alternate pronunciations include "Bwenna Veesta" (Spanish pronunciation) and simply "Biewnie." Many residents simply refer to the town as "BV".

Trustees recall election[edit]

Then-Mayor Cara Russell wrote a column for the Chaffee County Times entitled "How big a payoff do you want?", about the pros and cons of a local land development, on October 29, 2008.[10] Several town trustees believed the vote to annex the Cottonwood Meadows development was lost by a mere 21 votes because of the mayor's letter giving both the advantages and disadvantages of the real estate development.

The column prompted five of the six town trustees to present her with a letter of dismissal on November 10, 2008.[11] Russell requested a hearing over her dismissal.[12] Two weeks later, after the trustees determined that this was not the best course of action, having been informed by the mayor's attorney that they could be in violation of the mayor's First Amendment rights and subject to criminal charges, they voted to withdraw the letter of dismissal.[13]

Russell was re-elected April 6, 2010, and resigned on April 20, 2010, to run for Chaffee County Clerk.[14] On April 16, 2010, Russell filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Buena Vista and five town trustees for violation of her First Amendment rights.[15][16]

On July 9, 2010, The Mountain Mail newspaper reported[17] that the trustees denied the allegations and contended that they were, under legal doctrines, immune from the lawsuit. They also contended Russell's public statements opposing the annexation were not protected by the First Amendment. Russell and the town of Buena Vista settled the lawsuit with the town paying an undisclosed amount and issuing an apology for violating her First Amendment rights.[18]

Climate[edit]

Buena Vista has a Semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), with cold, dry winters and warm, somewhat wetter summers. Altitude and dryness cause the diurnal temperature variation to be high year-round.

Climate data for Buena Vista 2S, Colorado (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22) 		67
(19) 		71
(22) 		89
(32) 		92
(33) 		105
(41) 		102
(39) 		94
(34) 		96
(36) 		85
(29) 		73
(23) 		69
(21) 		105
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 40.3
(4.6) 		42.4
(5.8) 		48.7
(9.3) 		55.8
(13.2) 		66.0
(18.9) 		76.9
(24.9) 		81.9
(27.7) 		78.6
(25.9) 		71.9
(22.2) 		61.1
(16.2) 		48.5
(9.2) 		39.5
(4.2) 		59.2
(15.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.3
(−3.7) 		27.9
(−2.3) 		34.7
(1.5) 		41.0
(5.0) 		50.5
(10.3) 		59.8
(15.4) 		65.0
(18.3) 		62.6
(17.0) 		55.1
(12.8) 		44.5
(6.9) 		33.7
(0.9) 		25.2
(−3.8) 		43.8
(6.6)
Average low °F (°C) 10.4
(−12.0) 		13.3
(−10.4) 		20.6
(−6.3) 		26.2
(−3.2) 		35.0
(1.7) 		42.7
(5.9) 		48.2
(9.0) 		46.6
(8.1) 		38.3
(3.5) 		28.0
(−2.2) 		18.9
(−7.3) 		10.8
(−11.8) 		28.3
(−2.1)
Record low °F (°C) −37
(−38) 		−31
(−35) 		−24
(−31) 		−9
(−23) 		6
(−14) 		20
(−7) 		25
(−4) 		25
(−4) 		15
(−9) 		−2
(−19) 		−23
(−31) 		−31
(−35) 		−37
(−38)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.29
(7.4) 		0.40
(10) 		0.69
(18) 		0.95
(24) 		1.07
(27) 		0.89
(23) 		1.56
(40) 		2.01
(51) 		1.01
(26) 		0.86
(22) 		0.41
(10) 		0.40
(10) 		10.34
(263)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.6
(12) 		5.4
(14) 		8.6
(22) 		5.6
(14) 		2.4
(6.1) 		— 0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1.8
(4.6) 		4.4
(11) 		6.2
(16) 		45.0
(114)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4 4 6 6 7 8 12 13 8 5 4 4 79
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3 4 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 32
Source: NOAA (extremes 1905–present)[19]

Demographics[edit]

Buena Vista at the foot of the Collegiate Peaks
Mount Princeton
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18802,141—
19001,006—
19101,0413.5%
1920903−13.3%
1930751−16.8%
19407793.7%
19507830.5%
19601,806130.7%
19701,9628.6%
19802,0755.8%
19901,752−15.6%
20002,19525.3%
20102,61719.2%
2019 (est.)2,866[5]9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings
John C. H. Grabill's Mining Exchange, Assay Office and Photography Studio, circa1885. Grabill was active in this part of Colorado starting about 1881.

As of the census[21] of 2000, there were 2,195 people, 978 households, and 622 families residing in the town. The population density was 638.6 people per square mile (246.4/km2). There were 1,124 housing units at an average density of 327.0 per square mile (126.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.81% Caucasian, 0.09% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.73% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% of the population.

There were 978 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,800, and the median income for a family was $40,455. Males had a median income of $32,841 versus $25,486 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,920. About 9.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation[edit]

U.S. Route 24 is an east-west highway running from Clarkston, Michigan, to its intersection with Interstate 70 near Minturn, Colorado. Its western terminus is located just 64 miles (103 km) north of Buena Vista.

The short segment between US 50 at Poncha Springs and US 24 at Buena Vista was originally U.S. Route 650, designated in 1926. US 285 was commissioned in 1936 along its present extent from Sanderson, Texas, to Denver, mostly replacing state-numbered highways.

Chaffee County Road 306 leaves Buena Vista and travels west to the summit of Cottonwood Pass (elevation 12,126 feet / 3,696 meters). This road is closed during the snowy months, typically late October to April or May, but when open allows travelers a more direct route to Gunnison and Crested Butte than US 50 crossing Monarch Pass to the south of town.

Buena Vista is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Gunnison-Denver Outrider line.[22]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  2. ^ "2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  3. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on September 3, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  7. ^ "Buena Vista History". Buena Vista Welcome Center & Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Buena Vista town, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2014-09-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Russell, Cara (October 29, 2008). "How big a payoff do you want?". Chaffee County Times.
  11. ^ Mayor column prompts call for her removal. - Chaffee County Times.
  12. ^ Mayor requests hearing on her removal. - Chaffee County Times.
  13. ^ Trustees rescind removal letter. - Chaffee County Times.
  14. ^ Kathy Davis, "Russell to run for county clerk", Chaffee County Times, April 14, 2010
  15. ^ Kathy Davis,"Lawsuit filed against Town of BV, trustees", Chaffee County Times, April 28, 2010
  16. ^ Robert Boczkiewicz, "Ex-Buena Vista mayor sues town", Pueblo Chieftain, May 6, 2010
  17. ^ Robert Boczkiewicz, "Trustees deny Russell's allegations", The Mountain Mail, July 9, 2010
  18. ^ Kathy Davis, "Trustees approve settlement offer for lawsuit", Chaffee County Times, June 1, 2011
  19. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  20. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  22. ^ "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buena_Vista,_Colorado&oldid=985803781"