Editing Craig, Colorado

{{Short description|City in Moffat County, Colorado, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  --->
 | name                     = Craig, Colorado
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/municipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref>
 | motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
 | image_skyline            = Craig, Colorado.JPG
 | image_caption            = Entering Craig from the south on South Ranney Street.
 | image_flag               = 
 | flag_size                = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = 
 | blank_emblem_type        = 
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 | image_map                = Moffat County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Craig Highlighted 0817760.svg
 | map_caption              = Location of the City of Craig in {{nowrap|[[Moffat County, Colorado]]}}
 | pushpin_map              = USA
 | pushpin_label            = Craig
 | pushpin_label_position   = right
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the City of Craig in the {{nowrap|United States}}
<!-- Location ------------------>
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Colorado]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Moffat County, Colorado|Moffat County]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/counties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun/>
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
 | leader_name1             = 
 | leader_title2            = 
 | leader_name2             = 
 | leader_title3            = 
 | leader_name3             = 
 | leader_title4            = 
 | leader_name4             = 
 | established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
 | established_date         = 
 | established_title2       = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date2        = July 15, 1908<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 = September 2, 2007}}</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           = 13.138
 | area_land_km2            = 13.138
 | area_water_km2           = 0.000
<!-- Population ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
 | population_total         = 9,060
 | population_density_sq_mi = 1,786
 | population_metro         = 13,292
 | population_blank1_title  = [[Steamboat Springs-Craig, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
 | population_blank1        = 38,121
<!-- General information ----------------------->
 | timezone1                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
 | utc_offset1              = −07:00
 | timezone1_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
 | utc_offset1_DST          = −06:00
 | coordinates              = {{coord|40|31|01|N|107|33|19|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2014.html|title=2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date=July 1, 2014|access-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 6195
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=September 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>
 | postal_code              = 81625 & 81626 ([[PO Box]])
 | area_code                = [[Area code 970|970]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 08-17760
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 2410255<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410255}}</ref>
 | website                  = {{URL|www.ci.craig.co.us}}
}}

'''Craig''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule municipality]] that is the [[county seat]] and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] of [[Moffat County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> The city population was 9,060 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Craig is the principal city of the [[Craig, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Founded by William H. Tucker, Craig was incorporated as a city on July 15, 1908. The town was named for one of the town's financial backers, Reverend William Bayard Craig (1848-1916).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9410|title= Profile for Craig, Colorado, CO|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= June 22, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120404191435/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9410|archive-date= April 4, 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|year=1954 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=21|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=15}}</ref>

Craig became the county seat when [[Moffat County, Colorado|Moffat County]] was created out of the western portion of [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]] on February 27, 1911. In the same area as Craig, at the confluence of the [[Yampa River]] (then known as the Bear River) and Fortification Creek, were previous towns known as Yampa (as early as 1885) and Windsor (as early as 1878). In 1878, the area consisted of a number of ranches and at least two businesses: Himley's Ferry (which allowed crossing of the Yampa River) and Peck's Store (a one-room trading post).

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the largest power generation plant in Colorado<ref>1. Craig, Colorado Chamber of Commerce Website</ref> and several coal mines were constructed near Craig.

==Geography==
At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|13.138|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of which was land.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Craig has a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfb''). Summer days are hot with cool nights and very high [[diurnal temperature variation]], while winters are cold and snowy with lows near zero.

The record high temperature is {{convert|101|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, which occurred first on July 9, 2021, July 10, 2021, and most recently July 17, 2023, while the record low is {{convert|-51|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, which occurred on February 6, 1989.

{{Weather box
|location = Craig, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 52
|Feb record high F = 61
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 81
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 99
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 86
|Nov record high F = 72
|Dec record high F = 59

|Jan avg record high F = 43.4
|Feb avg record high F = 47.6
|Mar avg record high F = 63.1
|Apr avg record high F = 74.0
|May avg record high F = 81.9
|Jun avg record high F = 90.9
|Jul avg record high F = 95.0
|Aug avg record high F = 92.7
|Sep avg record high F = 87.7
|Oct avg record high F = 76.6
|Nov avg record high F = 63.6
|Dec avg record high F = 47.9
|year avg record high F = 95.4

|Jan high F = 30.6
|Feb high F = 35.7
|Mar high F = 48.2
|Apr high F = 58.5
|May high F = 69.1
|Jun high F = 81.2
|Jul high F = 89.2
|Aug high F = 86.5
|Sep high F = 77.2
|Oct high F = 62.3
|Nov high F = 46.6
|Dec high F = 32.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 16.8
|Feb mean F = 22.2
|Mar mean F = 34.0
|Apr mean F = 42.9
|May mean F = 51.8
|Jun mean F = 60.9
|Jul mean F = 68.3
|Aug mean F = 66.3
|Sep mean F = 57.1
|Oct mean F = 44.4
|Nov mean F = 31.8
|Dec mean F = 18.7
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 3.0
|Feb low F = 8.6
|Mar low F = 19.8
|Apr low F = 27.3
|May low F = 34.5
|Jun low F = 40.6
|Jul low F = 47.3
|Aug low F = 46.0
|Sep low F = 36.9
|Oct low F = 26.4
|Nov low F = 17.1
|Dec low F = 5.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -21.3
|Feb avg record low F = -18.0
|Mar avg record low F = -1.0
|Apr avg record low F = 12.8
|May avg record low F = 22.6
|Jun avg record low F = 30.3
|Jul avg record low F = 37.4
|Aug avg record low F = 36.1
|Sep avg record low F = 24.2
|Oct avg record low F = 11.6
|Nov avg record low F = -3.0
|Dec avg record low F = -18.0
|year avg record low F = -27.6

|Jan record low F = -44
|Feb record low F = -51
|Mar record low F = -24
|Apr record low F = -2
|May record low F = 12
|Jun record low F = 23
|Jul record low F = 30
|Aug record low F = 25
|Sep record low F = 10
|Oct record low F = -14
|Nov record low F = -21
|Dec record low F = -39

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.91
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.89
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.99
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.67
|May precipitation inch = 1.63
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.99
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.93
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.97
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.75
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.48
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.99
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.90
|year precipitation inch = 14.10

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.5
|Mar precipitation days = 10.0
|Apr precipitation days = 11.2
|May precipitation days = 10.1
|Jun precipitation days = 6.7
|Jul precipitation days = 7.5
|Aug precipitation days = 8.9
|Sep precipitation days = 7.4
|Oct precipitation days = 9.2
|Nov precipitation days = 8.2
|Dec precipitation days = 9.9

|Jan snow inch = 15.5
|Feb snow inch = 13.4
|Mar snow inch = 12.2
|Apr snow inch = 5.8
|May snow inch = 0.8
|Jun snow inch = 0.1
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.3
|Oct snow inch = 2.9
|Nov snow inch = 10.6
|Dec snow inch = 14.6
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 8.3
|Feb snow days = 6.4
|Mar snow days = 5.6
|Apr snow days = 2.4
|May snow days = 0.6
|Jun snow days = 0.1
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 1.4
|Nov snow days = 5.3
|Dec snow days = 6.9
|year snow days = 37.0

|Jan snow depth inch = 11.2
|Feb snow depth inch = 9.8
|Mar snow depth inch = 6.6
|Apr snow depth inch = 2.9
|May snow depth inch = 1.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 2.3
|Nov snow depth inch = 5.0
|Dec snow depth inch = 9.2
|year snow depth inch = 12.9

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024046&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Craig Moffat CO AP, CO (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = February 9, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00051932&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Craig 4 SW, CO(1981&ndash;2020)
|access-date = February 9, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = February 9, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=left
|1910= 392
|1920= 1297
|1930= 1418
|1940= 2123
|1950= 3080
|1960= 3984
|1970= 4205
|1980= 8133
|1990= 8091
|2000= 9189
|2010= 9464
|2020= 9060
|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 9,189 people, 3,525 households, and 2,432 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,886.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,851 housing units at an average density of {{convert|790.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.96% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.42% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.84% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.89% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 10.80% of the population.

There were 3,525 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,091, and the median income for a family was $45,504. Males had a median income of $38,038 versus $21,806 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,140. About 6.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.{{clear left}}

==Transportation==
Craig is the terminus of a [[Union Pacific Railroad]] (UP) [[branch line]] that connects with the UP main line at [[Bond, Colorado|Bond]]. The line was originally built by the [[Denver and Salt Lake Railway]] to connect Denver with Salt Lake City but was only completed as far west as Craig.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.museumnwco.org/mc_railroad|title= The Moffat Railroad|publisher= Museum of Northwest Colorado|access-date= March 20, 2016|archive-date= January 12, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190112080800/https://www.museumnwco.org/mc_railroad|url-status= dead}}</ref> {{As of|August 2024}}, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is studying state-run passenger train service between Denver and Craig via Winter Park and [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.codot.gov/projects/coloradomountainrail |title=Colorado Mountain Rail – Preliminary Design & Planning |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |access-date=2024-09-07}}</ref>

[[U.S. 40]] is the primary east–west highway serving Craig, while [[Colorado State Highway 13]] runs south to [[Interstate 70]] and north to the [[Wyoming]] border, where it becomes [[Wyoming State Highway 789]] and eventually connects with [[Interstate 80]].

[[Craig-Moffat Airport]] is the local airfield. Scheduled passenger jet airline service is available at the [[Yampa Valley Airport]], located near the town of [[Hayden, Colorado|Hayden]], {{convert|15|mi}} east of Craig.

Steamboat Springs Transit's regional bus service has multiple daily roundtrips between Craig and Steamboat Springs via Hayden, Milner, and Steamboat II,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.steamboatsprings.net/870/Regional-Service |title=Regional Transit Service |publisher=City of Steamboat Springs |access-date=2024-09-07}}</ref> while CDOT's [[Bustang]] Outrider intercity bus service has one daily Craig–Denver roundtrip.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ridebustang.com/outrider/?section=routesmap#craig_denver |title=Outrider Route |website=Bustang |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |access-date=2024-09-07}}</ref>

==Hunting==
Craig is, according to the local chamber of commerce, "[[Elk]] Hunting Capital of the World".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.craig-chamber.com/hunting.html |title=Hunting in Craig and Moffat County, Colorado |access-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101111245/http://www.craig-chamber.com/hunting.html |archive-date=November 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Edwin C. Johnson]] (January 1, 1884 – May 30, 1970) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as both governor of and U.S. senator from the state of Colorado.
* [[Jennifer LeRoy]] (b. January 7, 1974) is an American model and actress. She was chosen as ''Playboy's'' Playmate of the Month in February 1993.
* [[Chance Phelps]] (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) was a [[Lance Corporal]] in the [[United States Marine Corps]] who became known when Lt. Col. [[Michael Strobl]] escorted his remains from [[Iraq War|Iraq]]. Lt. Col. Strobl recorded his account of the escort in "[[Taking Chance]]", an article which was later made into a full-length movie by HBO under the same title.
* [[Dennis Preece]] (March 4, 1940 - April 25, 1997) was a Hall of Fame wrestling coach who attended the local high school in Craig, Colorado graduating in 1958.
* [[Angus Ellis Taylor]] (October 13, 1911 – April 6, 1999) was a Mathematician and Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz.

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
* [[List of municipalities in Colorado]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Craig, Colorado}}
* {{official website|http://www.ci.craig.co.us}}
* [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Craig.pdf CDOT map of the City of Craig]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070810063730/http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/jtbrown/coc/COC1357.HTM W.B. Craig]

{{Moffat County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Moffat County, Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]