Idaho Springs, Colorado

History

On January 5, 1859, during the Colorado gold rush, prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado. Jackson, a Missouri native with experience in the California gold fields, was drawn to the area by clouds of steam rising from some nearby hot springs. Jackson kept his find secret for several months, but after he paid for some supplies with gold dust, others rushed to Jackson's diggings. The location was originally known as "Jackson's Diggings". Once the location became a permanent settlement, it was variously called "Sacramento City", "Idahoe", "Idaho", "Idaho City", and finally "Idaho Springs".

The first placer discoveries were soon followed by discoveries of gold veins in the rocks of the canyon walls on both sides of Clear Creek. Hard rock mining became the mainstay of the town long after the gold-bearing gravels were exhausted.

The Idaho Springs miners' strike of 1903 demanding an eight-hour day erupted into violence in May 1903. This was a conflict was a part the much broader Colorado Labor Wars, where the Western Federation of Miners sought to pressure mining companies into improving conditions for miners.

The 1969 film Downhill Racer portrayed an alpine ski racer from Idaho Springs, played by Robert Redford; a brief scene was shot on location in Idaho Springs. Several scenes from the comedy film The Overbrook Brothers were filmed here in the spring of 2008.

Geography

Idaho Springs is located in northeastern Clear Creek County along Clear Creek near the confluence of its tributary, Chicago Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.7 km2, of which 0.09 sqkm, or 1.53%, is water.

Climate

Idaho Springs has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) with moderately cold winters and warm summers with cool nights. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 72 inches (183 cm).

Idaho Springs is notable for having relatively even levels of precipitation between all months. An average of 40 inches of precipitation fall each year.{{cite web |access-date=16 June 2024

|Jan record high F = 62 |Feb record high F = 67 |Mar record high F = 73 |Apr record high F = 78 |May record high F = 89 |Jun record high F = 95 |Jul record high F = 93 |Aug record high F = 91 |Sep record high F = 92 |Oct record high F = 83 |Nov record high F = 73 |Dec record high F = 66 |year record high F = 95 |Jan record low F = −32 |Feb record low F = −29 |Mar record low F = −23 |Apr record low F = -6 |May record low F = 8 |Jun record low F = 23 |Jul record low F = 28 |Aug record low F = 28 |Sep record low F = 14 |Oct record low F = -5 |Nov record low F = −21 |Dec record low F = −24 |year record low F = −32

Demographics

There were 841 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $48,790. Males had a median income of $35,446 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,789. About 2.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.--

Education

Idaho Springs Public Schools are part of the Clear Creek School District RE-1. There are two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one charter school. Students attend Clear Creek High School.

Carlson Elementary School is located in Idaho Springs.

Culture

Idaho Springs is the birthplace of Colorado-style pizza.

Transportation

Idaho Springs is incorporated into the Colorado Department of Transportation's Bustang network. It is part of the West Line, which connects Denver to Grand Junction.

In popular culture

Beaus of Holly, a -TV Christmas movie produced in 2020 for the Ion Channel, was filmed in Idaho Springs. The fictional mining town of Haven Springs in the video game Life Is Strange: True Colors is inspired by Idaho Springs.

The main character in Downhill Racer (1969), played by Robert Redford, was born and raised in Idaho Springs. The town is also featured in the movie.

Notable people

• Gus Alberts, Major League Baseball player
• Joseph H. August, cinematographer
• Warren A. Haggott, U.S. Representative from Colorado
• Paul M. Lewis, entrepreneur and car builder
• Pete Morrison, silent western film actor
• Haleigh Washington, Olympic Gold medalist in Women's Volleyball at 2020 Summer Olympics
• Jennifer Whalen, professional mountain bike racer

Points of interest

• Argo Gold Mine and Mill – The mill and museum are open for tours.
• Statue of cartoon character Steve Canyon
• The Charlie Taylor Water Wheel – a water wheel built by miner Charlie Taylor in 1893 to power a stamp mill. Moved to its present location south of US 6 and US 40 in 1948 and restored in 1988. Fed by Bridal Veil Falls, a small waterfall, visible to the south of eastbound I-70.
• Mount Blue Sky – The mountain is located about 28 miles south of Idaho Springs.
• Indian Hot Springs

References

References

1. "Active List of municipalities in Colorado". [[Colorado.
2. "Colorado Counties". [[Colorado.
3. (December 1, 2004). "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". [[Colorado.
4. "City Council – City of Idaho Springs". City of Idaho Springs.
5. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. United States Census Bureau. "Idaho Springs city; Colorado".
7. "ZIP Code Lookup". [[United States Postal Service]].
8. {{GNIS. 204710
9. Robert L. Brown (1985) ''The Great Pikes Peak Gold Rush'', Caldwell, Ida.: Caxton, p.26-32.
10. (April 2023). "US Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System".
11. ''Idaho Springs, Colorado'', 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1957 (1987 rev.)
12. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Idaho Springs city, Colorado". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
13. "IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO – Climate Summary".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "The Wild and Woolly Story of Colorado-Style Pizza – PMQ Pizza Magazine".
16. Boster, Seth Boster. (January 14, 2022). "The unlikely story of how 'Colorado-style' pizza was born {{!}} Craving Colorado". [[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)]].
17. "Bustang Schedule". CDOT.
18. "Beaus of Holly (2020 TV Movie) Filming & Production".
19. "Argo Mine".
20. "Steve Canyon".
21. "Historic Clear Creek County". Clear Creek County.
22. (December 4, 2018). "The Know: 5 hot springs around Colorado to keep you warm this winter". The Denver Post.