Editing Basalt, Colorado

{{short description|Town in Colorado, United States}}
{{other uses|Basalt (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Basalt, Colorado
| other_name                      = <!-- Aspen Junction, Incorporated in 1901 as Basalt -->
| nickname                        = "The Heart of the Roaring Fork Valley"
| settlement_type                 = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule 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 30, 2024}}</ref>
| motto                           = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = Basalt Mountain.JPG
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Downtown Basalt with Basalt Mountain in the background
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_size                     = 
| image_blank_emblem              = 
| blank_emblem_type               = 
| blank_emblem_size               = 
| image_map                       = Eagle County and Pitkin County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Basalt Highlighted 0804935.svg
| map_caption                     = Location of the Town of Basalt in [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle]] and [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]].
<!-- Pushpin map -->
|pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief          = 
|pushpin_label           = Basalt
|pushpin_label_position  = right
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the Town of Basalt, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|39.3689|-107.0328|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-175038|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=175038|name=Basalt, Colorado|access-date=January 24, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft            = 6611
|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|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle]] and [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin]]<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 24, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]]<ref name=COMun />
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = David Knight
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| leader_title2                   = 
| leader_name2                    = 
| established_title               = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date                = 
| established_title2              = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2               = August 26, 1901<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) -->
| established_date3               = 
<!-- Area --------------------->
|unit_pref                = US
|total_type               = Total
|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 7, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 5.178
|area_land_km2            = 5.158
|area_water_km2           = 0.020
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total         = 3,984
|population_density_sq_mi = 2,000
|population_blank1_title  = [[Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1        = 134,774
<!-- General information ----------------------->
|timezone1                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset1              = −07:00
|timezone1_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset1_DST          = −06:00
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code            = 81621<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web | date = August 19, 2007 | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | title = ZIP Code Lookup | format = [[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]] | access-date = August 19, 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             = 970
|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|175038}}
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2411665}}
|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|04935}}
|website                 = [http://www.basalt.net/ Town of Basalt]
}}

'''Basalt''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule town]] located in [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle]] and [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]], [[United States]].<ref name=COMun/> The town population was 3,984 at the [[2020 United States census]] with 2,917 residing in Eagle County and 1,067 residing in Pitkin County.<ref name=2020_Census/> Basalt is a part of the [[Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Basalt was first named Aspen Junction after the railroad junction which led to present day [[Aspen, Colorado]]. Aspen Junction was a territory serving Aspen to Leadville Mining towns, with the Railroad Junction, also going West and South to Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The Aspen Junction, Colorado, post office opened on February 13, 1890.<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> The town was first served by the [[Colorado Midland Railway|Colorado Midland Railroad]], but the railroad was later bought by the [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad|Denver & Rio Grande Railroad]] in 1901.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basalt.net/217/History-of-Basalt|title=History of Basalt {{!}} Basalt, CO - Official Website|website=www.basalt.net|access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basaltmountaininn.com/basalt-colorado/history/|title=History of Basalt, Colorado|website=Basalt Mountain Inn|language=en-US|access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref>

The Aspen Junction post office was renamed Basalt on June 19, 1895,<ref name=CPO/> and the Town of Basalt was incorporated on August 26, 1901.<ref name=COMun/> The name was chosen for the basaltic rock formations on Basalt Mountain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.basalt.net/history.htm |title=Welcome to Basalt, Colorado |publisher=Town of Basalt |access-date=March 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309104919/http://www.basalt.net/history.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2012 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Basalt is located along [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]], and at the confluence of the [[Fryingpan River|Fryingpan]] and [[Roaring Fork River|Roaring Fork]] rivers.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|5.178|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.020|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1900= 382
|1910= 235
|1920= 185
|1930= 148
|1940= 212
|1950= 173
|1960= 213
|1970= 419
|1980= 529
|1990= 1128
|2000= 2681
|2010= 3857
|2020= 3984
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the [[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> of 2000, there were 2,681 people, 1,052 households, and 637 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|1,394.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,218 housing units at an average density of {{convert|633.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 91.53% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.48% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.52% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.75% of the population.

There were 1,052 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 42.3% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $67,200, and the median income for a family was $73,375. Males had a median income of $40,791 versus $30,532 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $30,746.  About 4.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}
[[File:Ruedi Reservoir.jpg|thumb|Ruedi Reservoir in July.]]

== Tourism ==
[[File:Basalt Town Hall.JPG|thumb|Basalt Town Hall]]
Basalt is well known for its Gold Medal trout fishing in the Frying Pan River.  Ruedi Reservoir is also a popular regional destination for boating and other watersports. Basalt is a hub for mountain biking in the Roaring Fork valley. There are a dozen world class cross country trails as well as lift-accessed downhilling within 15 miles of Basalt, both up and down the valley.
{{clear|left}}

==Transportation==
* [[Roaring Fork Transportation Authority]] ([[RFTA]]) provides bus transit in Basalt.
* Basalt's public transit system (WE-CYCLE) supplied by [[PBSC Urban Solutions|PBSC]].

==Notable people==
*[[Wally Dallenbach Jr.]], [[NASCAR]] driver
*[[Neil Diamond]], musician
*[[Joey Diaz]], comedian
*[[Hanna Faulhaber]], freestyle skier and [[Olympic Games|Olympian]]
*[[Ann Korologos]], former [[United States Secretary of Labor]]
*[[Tom Korologos]], former [[United States Ambassador to Belgium]]
*[[Christy Smith (Survivor contestant)|Christy Smith]], contestant on [[Survivor: The Amazon]]
*[[Torin Yater-Wallace]], [[Olympic Games|Olympian]] freestyle skier
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Edwards-Rifle, CO Combined Statistical Area]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://www.basalt.net/ Town of Basalt]
**[https://basaltchamber.org/ Basalt Chamber of Commerce]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Basalt.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Basalt]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Roaring Fork Valley}}
{{Eagle County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Pitkin County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Eagle County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Pitkin County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]
[[Category:Roaring Fork Valley]]