Florence, Colorado

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Florence, Colorado
Statutory city
Entering from the east on Highway 115
Entering from the east on Highway 115
Location of Florence in Fremont County, Colorado
Location of Florence in Fremont County, Colorado
Coordinates: 38°23′25″N 105°7′0″W / 38.39028°N 105.11667°W / 38.39028; -105.11667Coordinates: 38°23′25″N 105°7′0″W / 38.39028°N 105.11667°W / 38.39028; -105.11667
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
County[1]Fremont
IncorporatedSeptember 13, 1887[2]
Government
 • TypeStatutory City[1]
 • MayorDick Upton[3]
 • City ManagerMichael Patterson[4]
Area
 • Total4.28 sq mi (11.09 km2)
 • Land4.28 sq mi (11.08 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation5,180 ft (1,579 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,881
 • Estimate 
(2019)[7]
3,944
 • Density922.36/sq mi (356.09/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes[8]
81226 & 81290
Area code(s)719
FIPS code08-27040
GNIS feature ID0204775
Websitewww.colorado.gov/pacific/florencecolorado

Florence is a statutory city located in Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The population was 3,881 at the 2010 census,[9] up from 3,653 in 2000.

History[edit]

Florence was built as a transportation center, with three railroads including a small railroad depot for the trains that hauled coal from the neighboring towns of Rockvale and Coal Creek. Oil was first discovered in Florence in 1862, being the first oil center west of the Mississippi. In the early 1880s the town grew rapidly.[10] The city was named after Florence, the daughter of local settler James McCandless.[11] The town was incorporated in 1887.[12]

Geography[edit]

Florence is in eastern Fremont County, on the south side of the Arkansas River. It is bordered to the west by the town of Williamsburg, and the town of Coal Creek is 3 miles (5 km) to the southwest. Colorado State Highway 115 runs northwest 9 miles (14 km) to Cañon City and northeast 6 miles (10 km) to Penrose, intersecting U.S. Route 50 in each direction. Colorado State Highway 67 leads north 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to US 50 and south 11 miles (18 km) to Wetmore. Pueblo is 33 miles (53 km) to the east via CO 115 and US 50.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km2), of which 2.4 acres (9,683 m2), or 0.09%, is water.[9]

Florence sits in the semi-arid high desert lands of southern Colorado.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19003,728—
19102,712−27.3%
19202,629−3.1%
19302,475−5.9%
19402,6326.3%
19502,7735.4%
19602,8211.7%
19702,8460.9%
19802,9875.0%
19902,9900.1%
20003,65322.2%
20103,8816.2%
2019 (est.)3,944[7]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 3,653 people, 1,488 households, and 973 families residing in the city. The population density was 897.7 per square mile (346.5/km2). There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of 398.6 per square mile (153.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.77% White, 0.30% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.63% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.66% of the population.

There were 1,488 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,628, and the median income for a family was $39,276. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $22,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,969. About 12.5% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government[edit]

Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, including ADX Florence, the only federal supermax prison in the United States, is located near Florence in unincorporated Fremont County.[15][16]

Education[edit]

Fremont RE-2 School District operates public schools, including Penrose Elementary School, Florence Elementary School and Florence Junior/Senior High School.

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. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  3. ^ https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/florencecolorado/city-council-members-0
  4. ^ https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/florencecolorado/city-manager-2
  5. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on December 14, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Florence city, Colorado". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Community History". Florence Colorado. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 21.
  12. ^ "Florence, Colorado". City-Data.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ^ Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  15. ^ "USP Florence ADMAX". www.bop.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  16. ^ "Zoning Map." (Archive) City of Florence, Colorado. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  17. ^ 'Former Wyoming Sec. of State Thyra Thomson Dies,' Billings Gazette (Wyoming), Joan Barron, June 12, 2013

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florence,_Colorado&oldid=985803776"