Editing Antonito, Colorado

{{short description|Statutory Town in Colorado, United States}}
{{Redirect|Antonito|the footballer|Antoñito|other uses|Antoñito (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Antonito, Colorado
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|motto                    =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = File:Antonito,_Colorado.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Antonito (2014)
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|image_map                = File:Conejos County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Antonito Highlighted 0802355.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of the Town of Antonito in {{nowrap|[[Conejos County, Colorado]].}}
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<!-- Pushpin map -->
|pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
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|pushpin_label           = Antonito
|pushpin_label_position  = top
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the Town of Antonito, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|37.0792|-106.0086|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-190909|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=190909|name=Antonito, Colorado|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|elevation_ft            = 7888
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1       = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Conejos County, Colorado|Conejos]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=January 14, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory town|statutory town]]<ref name=COMun />
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
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|leader_title1            = [[Town Administrator]]
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|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
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|established_title2       = [[Incorporation (business)|Incorporated (town)]]
|established_date2        = December 29, 1889<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = August 18, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html| archive-date= September 27, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
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<!-- Area --------------------->
|unit_pref                = US
|area_footnotes           = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 1.105
|area_land_km2            = 1.105
|area_water_km2           = 0.000
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total         = 647
|population_density_sq_mi = 1,516
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset              = −07:00
|timezone_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST          = −06:00
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type     = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code          = 81120<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|date=August 18, 2007 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=August 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818145107/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|area_code            = [[Area code 719|719]]
|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|190909}}
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2412370}}
|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|02355}}
|website                 = 
|module                  = 
|footnotes               = 
}}

'''Antonito''' (in Spanish Antoñito) is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town|statutory town]] located in [[Conejos County, Colorado|Conejos County]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> The town population was 647 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/>

==History==
[[File:Antonito Train-Station Flags 2012-10-23.JPG|thumb|left|[[Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad|C&TS]] terminus (2012)]]
Antonito began life as a sheep herding camp known as San Antonio Junction, referring to its proximity to the [[Conejos River|Conejos]] and San Antonio rivers. When the [[Denver & Rio Grande Railroad]] built its line south from Alamosa, the town was renamed Antonito and became an important town on the railroad line. The San Antonio, Colorado, post office moved north to Antonito on January 24, 1881,<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> and the Town of Antonito was incorporated on December 29, 1889.<ref name=MuniIncCO/> There are currently no major industries located in Antonito, but the historic [[Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad]] has one terminus in Antonito and the other in [[Chama, New Mexico]]. The C&TS also has maintenance facilities<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railfan.com/drgw-coach-receives-restoration-grant/|access-date=November 19, 2018|title=D&RGW Coach Receives Restoration Grant|author=Jeff Terry|date=February 29, 2016}}</ref> and rail yard in the town. The [[Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad]] continues to operate the rail line from Antonito to Alamosa.

In 2015, a Colorado State Highway project rebuilt the stretch of Highway 285 that runs through town. The new highway has helped beautify the downtown area and improve traffic flow.

The city has a number of unique buildings, including a historic [[Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad]] depot, one of only a few lava rock depots still existing in the United States. Currently in a state of disrepair, a grant to restore the building is in the works. Cano's Castle,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11786|title=Cano's Castle: Beer Can Folk Art, Antonito, Colorado|website=RoadsideAmerica.com}}</ref> a folk-art home constructed by a local resident, attracts attention from tourists and local residents alike. Just south of town, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Conejos County have jointly developed an outdoor shooting range with areas for rifle sighting as well as target practice ranges for various types of rifles and handguns.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chieftain.com/news/2595634-120/range-shooting-targets-conejos |title=Public shooting range is a hit &#124; the Pueblo Chieftain |access-date=March 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412200902/http://www.chieftain.com/news/2595634-120/range-shooting-targets-conejos |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An indoor archery range and nearby hunting and fishing opportunities attract outdoor enthusiasts.

A library, tire repair shop and a new medical clinic have opened in recent years and [[Family Dollar]] recently built a store in Antonito. The South Conejos School District recently constructed a new South Conejos Jr. and Sr. High School in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southconejos.com/|title=South Conejos School District|website=www.southconejos.com}}</ref>

Several scenes from the prologue of [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]] were filmed in and around Antonito, including scenes depicting the Jones family home. This century-old structure is currently used as a [[bed and breakfast]].<ref>{{|url=http://www.indianajonesbedandbreakfast.com/about_us/}}</ref>

The town is known for its many murals, most of them painted by [[Fred Haberlein]].

Antonito is the location of the oldest church building and congregation in Colorado, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, built in 1857.

Following the legalization of [[cannabis in Colorado]], Antonito took advantage of its location along the [[New Mexico]] border (where cannabis was illegal until 2022) to become a destination for New Mexico residents seeking to legally purchase cannabis. The tax revenue resulted in a $295,000 annual increase to the city budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/28/antonito-marijuana-taxes-benefits/|title=Antonito, Colorado booming because of marijuana taxes|date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095820/https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/28/antonito-marijuana-taxes-benefits/ |archive-date=November 8, 2020 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Antonito is located in the [[San Luis Valley]] near the southern border of Colorado along [[U.S. Route 285#Colorado|U.S. Highway 285]]. It is {{convert|28|mi}} north to [[Alamosa, Colorado|Alamosa]] and {{convert|30|mi}} south to [[U.S. Route 64]] at Tres Piedras, [[New Mexico]].

At the [[2020 United States census]], Antonito had a total area of {{convert|1.105|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.

Antonito is the southern terminus of the [[San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad]] and the eastern terminus of the steam powered, narrow gauge [[Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad]], which runs westwards to [[Osier, Colorado]], and [[Chama, New Mexico]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 315
|1900= 347
|1910= 681
|1920= 946
|1930= 858
|1940= 1220
|1950= 1255
|1960= 1045
|1970= 1113
|1980= 1103
|1990= 875
|2000= 873
|2010= 781
|2020= 647
}}
At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 873 people, 357 households and 234 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,212.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 396 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,003.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 61.40% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.55% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 31.96% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.75% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 90.26% of the population.

There were 357 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.09.

28.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The [[median household income]] was $19,205 and the median family income was $23,162. Males had a median income of $25,417 compared with $17,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,047. About 26.4% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Notable people==
* [[Carlos F. Lucero]], judge of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit]]
* [[Joe Mondragon]], jazz musician
* [[Joe Vigil]], running coach

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[San Luis Valley]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Antonito.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Antonito]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Conejos County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Conejos County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]