Cañon City, Colorado

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Cañon City, Colorado
other_name =
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nickname = Climate Capital of Colorado
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map_caption = Location in Fremont County and the State of Colorado


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = USA
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Colorado|name=State of Colorado
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Fremont County Seatcite web | url = http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html | title = Active Colorado Municipalities | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs | accessdate = 2007-09-01]
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government_type = Home Rule Municipality
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1860
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = April 3, 1872cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = 2004-12-01 | accessdate = 2007-09-02]
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 = 31.2
area_land_km2 = 31.1
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area_total_sq_mi = 12.0
area_land_sq_mi = 12.0
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area_water_percent = 0.08
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 15431
population_density_km2 = 495.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1284.1
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd=38
latm=26
lats=48
latNS=N
longd=105
longm=13
longs=42
longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1625
elevation_ft = 5332
postal_code_type = ZIP codescite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | title = ZIP Code Lookup| format = JavaScript/HTML | publisher = United States Postal Service | accessmonthday = September 7 | accessyear = 2007]
postal_code = 81212 & 81215 (PO Box)
area_code = 719
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website = [http://www.canoncity.org/ City of Cañon City]
footnotes =

:"For other similar names see also Canyon City.

The City of Cañon City (IPAEng|ˈkænjən ˈsɪti) is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, Colorado, United States.GR|6 The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 16,000 in 2005.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005-ip.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2006-06-20 | accessdate = 2007-05-04] Cañon City is famous for being the site of 9 state and 4 federal prisons. It straddles the Arkansas River, and is a popular tourist destination for Whitewater rafting and rock climbing.

In 1994, the Board on Geographic Names approved adding the tilde in the official name of Cañon City, a change from Canon City as the official name in decisions of 1906 and 1975. [USGS Geographic Names Information SystemGnis2|191867]

Emory S. Land, U.S. Navy vice admiral and decorated hero, was born in Cañon City.

It is one of the very few U.S. cities to have an eñe in its name.

History

Cañon City was founded in 1859 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush as a commercial center for miners.

In 1861 the town raised two companies of volunteers for service with the Second Colorado Infantry in the American Civil War. The regiment fought battles in nearby New Mexico and as far east as Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) and Missouri before mustering out of service in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for petroleum six miles north of town, near an oil seep. He struck oil at a depth of 50 feet, and completed the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and refined kerosene and fuel oil from the petroleum, and sold the products in Denver. [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.]

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

Geography

Cañon City is located at coor dms|38|26|48|N|105|13|42|W|city (38.446800, -105.228305)GR|1 at an altitude of 5,332 ft (1,625 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.0 square miles (31.2 km²), of which, 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²) of it is land and 0.08% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,431 people, 6,164 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,284.1 people per square mile (495.7/km²). There were 6,617 housing units at an average density of 550.6/sq mi (212.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.15% White, 1.59% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.33% of the population.

There were 6,164 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,736, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,258 versus $21,849 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 7.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Places of interest

*Royal Gorge Route Railroad
*Colorado State Penitentiary
*Royal Gorge Bridge
*Buckskin Joe
*The Owl, local eatery converted from turn-of-the-century cigar shop
*Canon City Chamber of Commerce

ee also

*Cañon City Micropolitan Statistical Area
*Colorado municipalities
*Fremont County, Colorado
*Front Range Urban Corridor
*South Central Colorado Urban Area
*State of Colorado

References

External links

* [http://www.canoncity.org/ City of Cañon City website]
* [http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/ Cañon City news and information from the Cañon City Daily Record]
** [http://www.dot.state.co.us/App_DTD_DataAccess/Downloads/CityMaps/Canon%20City.pdf CDOT map of the City of Cañon City]
* [http://www.canoncitycolorado.com/ Canon City & Royal Gorge Visitor Information]
* [http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/ Canon City Daily Record]
* [http://www.canoncityschools.org Canon City School District]
* [http://www.canoncitychamber.com/ Canon City Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://downtowncanoncity.com/ Downtown Canon City]
* [http://www.canoncitycolorado.com/ canoncitycolorado.com]
* [http://www.discovercanoncity.com/ DiscoverCanonCity.com]
* [http://fourmilenews.wordpress.com/ Canon City Country Club Living]

Area Attractions

* [http://www.royalgorgeroute.com Historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad]
* [http://www.buckskinjoe.com Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway]
* [http://www.royalgorgeroute.com Royal Gorge Route]
* [http://www.royalgorgebridge.com Royal Gorge Bridge and Park]