Editing Delta, Colorado

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{distinguish|Delta County, Colorado}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Delta, 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>
| nickname                        = City of Murals
| motto                           = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = Delta-Main1.jpg
| image_caption                   = Main Street in Delta.
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
| image_shield                    = 
| image_map               = Delta County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Delta Highlighted 0819850.svg
|map_caption              = Location of the City of Delta in {{nowrap|[[Delta County, Colorado]].}}
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_label            = Delta
|pushpin_label_position   = right
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the City of Delta in the {{nowrap|[[United States]].}}
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Colorado}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Delta County, Colorado|Delta]]<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                 = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = [[Mayor Pro-Tem]]
| leader_name1                    = 
| leader_title2                   = Council Members
| leader_name2                    = 
| established_title               = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date                = 
| established_title2              = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2               = October 24, 1882<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           = 35.043
|area_land_km2            = 34.378
|area_water_km2           =  0.665
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total         = 9,035
|population_density_sq_mi = 681
<!-- General information ----------------------->
|timezone1               = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset1             = −07:00
|timezone1_DST           = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset1_DST         = −06:00
| coordinates            = {{coord|38|44|59|N|108|04|38|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes  = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft           = 4931
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP code]]<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            = 81416
| area_code              = 970
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 08-19850
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
| blank1_info            = 2410319<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410319}}</ref>
| website                = {{URL|cityofdelta.net}}
}}

'''Delta''' 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 [[Delta County, Colorado|Delta County]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The town population was 9,035 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> The [[United States Forest Service]] headquarters of the [[Grand Mesa National Forest|Grand Mesa]], [[Gunnison National Forest|Gunnison]], and [[Uncompahgre National Forest|Uncompahgre]] [[United States National Forest|National Forests]] are located in Delta.

==History==
Delta was built as a trading post for the [[Ute people]] and early settlers. [[Fort Uncompahgre]] was built in 1828.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx| title= A History & Heritage Hotbed| publisher= Delta County Colorado Tourism| access-date= September 7, 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120702112422/http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx| archive-date= July 2, 2012| url-status= dead}}</ref>

The town was named because of its location on the [[river delta|delta]] where the [[Uncompahgre River]] flows into the [[Gunnison River]].<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=23|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=17}}</ref> The town was incorporated in 1882.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Delta-Colorado.html|title=Delta, Colorado|publisher=City-Data.com|access-date=September 7, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
Delta is located in southwestern Delta County. The downtown area is situated south of the Gunnison River and east of the Uncompahgre River. The city limits extend north across the Gunnison into the area now known as "North Delta", then west {{convert|6|mi|0}} along [[U.S. Route 50]] as far as Westwinds Airport.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|35.043|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.665|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

Delta is part of the [[Colorado Western Slope]] region.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 470
|1900= 819
|1910= 2388
|1920= 2623
|1930= 2938
|1940= 3717
|1950= 4097
|1960= 3832
|1970= 3694
|1980= 3931
|1990= 3789
|2000= 6400
|2010= 8915
|2020= 9035
|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 2010, there were 8,915 people, 3,530 households, and 2,337 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|1,682.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 3,825 housing units at an average density of {{convert|721.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 82.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 12.5% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 3.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 26.1% of the population.

There were 3,530 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
{{clear|left}}

==Art and culture==
[[File:Egyptian theatre exterior.jpg|thumb|The historic [[Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado)|Egyptian Theatre]] on Main Street]]

[[Fort Uncompahgre]] was built in 1828, established as a fur trading post by [[Antoine Robidoux]]. Tour guides dress in period attire and trap beavers, make [[buckskins]], knap [[arrowhead]]s, and work the [[forge]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html | title= Step back in time… | publisher= About Delta Colorado | access-date= July 7, 2012 | archive-date= October 16, 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221016062015/http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html | url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Tourism==
Parks:
* Pow Wow Arbor
* Mountain View Pavilion
* Riley Pavilion / Cleland Park
* Shade Pavilion Island 
* Cottonwood Park
* Emerald Hills Park<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104840/http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* From the city, one can see the Grand Mesa Mountain range. It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world.

==Media==
The principal newspaper is the ''Delta County Independent'', which is published weekly on Wednesdays. Local readers also enjoy ''The High Country Shopper'', a free paper that distributes over 15,000 copies throughout the county. They also have a Facebook page that anyone could follow.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[Montrose Regional Airport]], located {{convert|21|mi}} south of Delta, is the closest airport served by scheduled airlines. In [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]], which is {{Convert|39|mi}} to the north, there are also scheduled airline services, as well as an [[Amtrak]] train station with a daily ''[[California Zephyr]]'' departure in each direction. Delta is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 50.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]] runs east-west, crossing 12 states and linking [[Sacramento, California]], with [[Ocean City, Maryland]]. In [[Colorado]], it passes through Delta as Main Street and connects the city to [[Montrose, Colorado|Montrose]], [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]] and [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]].
*[[Image:Colorado 65.svg|25px]] [[Colorado State Highway 65|State Highway 65]] is a {{convert|61|mi|adj=on}} stretch that runs north from [[Colorado State Highway 92|State Highway 92]] east of Delta, over the [[Grand Mesa]], to [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]] near [[Palisade, Colorado|Palisade]].
*[[Image:Colorado 92.svg|25px]] [[Colorado State Highway 92|State Highway 92]] begins in Delta, at the intersection of Main Street and First Street. It runs {{convert|73|mi}} to the east, re-encountering US 50 near [[Blue Mesa Reservoir]] and [[Curecanti National Recreation Area]].

===Health care===
[[Delta County Memorial Hospital]] serves the city and the surrounding area. In addition to the main hospital, seven specialty clinics are available.<ref name=hospital>{{cite web |url=http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us |title=Our history |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=Delta County Memorial Hospital |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629085826/http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In April 2021 a COVID-19 outbreak occurred among the Delta Police Department. This incident happened four months after COVID-19 vaccinations became available to all first responders in Colorado free of charge.

===Education===
Delta is part of the Delta County School District, which also includes [[Cedaredge]], [[Crawford, Colorado|Crawford]], [[Hotchkiss, Colorado|Hotchkiss]], and [[Paonia, Colorado|Paonia]]. The school district serves 4,792 students as of the 2020-2021 academic year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deltaschools.com/index.php |website=Delta County School District |access-date=November 26, 2020|title=Home - Delta County Joint District No. 50 }}</ref>

Delta is also home to Technical College of the Rockies, a small trade school serving roughly 300 students annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tcr.edu/ |title=Home - Technical College of the Rockies |website=tcr.edu}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Chuck Cottier]], baseball player and manager
*[[Dale Ishimoto]], American actor
*[[Frank H. Ono]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
*[[Matt Soper]], Colorado Representative, House District 54
*[[Felix L. Sparks]], [[Colorado Supreme Court]] justice, [[U.S. Army]] colonel

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Borowsky, Larry and Cleary, Brooke, "Delta's King of Kings: The Egyptian Theatre and the Bank Night Craze". ''Colorado Heritage'' Summer 2002: pp.&nbsp;2&ndash;15
* Ferguson, Olivia Spalding, "A Sketch of Delta County History". ''The Colorado Magazine'' 5 (October 1928): pp.&nbsp;161&ndash;164 
*{{cite book |last1=Weber |first1=William |last2=Wittmann |first2=Ronald |title=Colorado flora [electronic resource], Western slope : a field guide to the vascular plants / William A. Weber, Ronald C. Wittmann |date=2012 |publisher=Boulder, Colo. : University Press of Colorado 2012 |location=Boulder, Colorado |isbn=9781607321439 |pages=532}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=1}}
*[https://cityofdelta.net/ City of Delta website]
*[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Delta.pdf CDOT map of the City of Delta]
*[http://www.deltacolorado.org/ Delta Area Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.deltacountyindependent.com/ ''Delta County Independent'']

{{Delta County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|show}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Delta County, Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado Western Slope]]
[[Category:Gunnison River]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]