Editing Florence, Colorado

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Florence, Colorado
| official_name                   = City of Florence<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 18, 2021}}</ref>
| settlement_type                 = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun/>
| motto                           = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = Florence, Colorado.JPG
| image_caption                   = Entering Florence from the east on [[Colorado State Highway 115]].
| image_flag                      = Flag of Florence, Colorado.svg
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_size                     = 
| image_blank_emblem              = 
| blank_emblem_type               = 
| blank_emblem_size               = 
| image_map               = Fremont County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Florence Highlighted 0827040.svg
|map_caption              = Location of the City of Florence in {{nowrap|[[Fremont County, Colorado]].}}
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_label            = Florence
|pushpin_label_position   = right
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the City of Florence 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        = [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]]<ref name=COMun/>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Steve Wolfe, Mayor-elect <ref name="city-council">{{cite web |title=City Council {{!}} City of Florence |url=https://cityofflorence.colorado.gov/city-council |website=cityofflorence.colorado.gov |access-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211202204827/https://cityofflorence.colorado.gov/city-council |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title1                   = City Manager
| leader_name1                    = Amy Nasta<ref name="city-council" />
| leader_title2                   = City Clerk
| leader_name2                    = Cortlyne Huppe<ref name="city-council" />
| leader_title3                   = 
| leader_name3                    = 
| leader_title4                   = 
| leader_name4                    = 
| established_title               = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date                = 
| established_title2              = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2               = September 13, 1887<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 10, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 11.091
|area_land_km2            = 11.076
|area_water_km2           =  0.015
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 5200
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total         = 3,822
|population_density_sq_mi = 894
|population_metro         = 48,939
|population_blank1_title  = [[Pueblo-Cañon City, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1        = 217,101
|population_blank2_title  = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
|population_blank2        = 5,055,344
<!-- 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|23|01|N|105|06|41|W|region:US-CO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- 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 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214101437/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=December 14, 2006 }}</ref>
| postal_code                     = 81226 & 81290
| area_code                       = [[Area code 719|719]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 08-27040
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2410510<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410510}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|https://cityofflorence.colorado.gov/}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}

'''Florence''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|statutory city]] in [[Fremont County, Colorado]], United States. The city population was 3,822 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Florence is a part of the [[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]].

The city lies along the [[Arkansas River]] in eastern Fremont County. It is near [[Federal Correctional Complex, Florence]], a major U.S. [[federal prison]] complex that includes the only remaining [[supermax prison]] in the country, [[ADX Florence]].

==History==
{{See also|Early history of Fremont County, Colorado}}

Florence was built as a transportation center, with three railroads including a small railroad depot for the trains that hauled coal from the neighboring towns of [[Rockvale, Colorado|Rockvale]] and [[Coal Creek, Fremont County, Colorado|Coal Creek]]. After a small oil was discovered north of Canon City at [[Oil Spring]], commercial quantity oil was discovered in Florence in 1862,  Florence became the first significant oil center west of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]. In the early 1880s the town grew rapidly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.florencecoloradochamber.com/community-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107182105/http://www.florencecoloradochamber.com/community-history|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2011|title=Community History|publisher=Florence Colorado|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> The city was named after Florence, the daughter of local settler James McCandless.<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=27|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=21}}</ref> The town was incorporated in 1887.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Florence-Colorado.html|title=Florence, Colorado |publisher=City-Data.com|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Downtown Florence Historic District (Florence, Colorado)|Downtown Florence Historic District]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2017.
[[File:Downtown Florence Historic District.JPG|left|thumb|Downtown Florence, in 2017]]

==Geography==
Florence is in eastern Fremont County, on the south side of the [[Arkansas River]]. It is bordered to the west by the town of [[Williamsburg, Colorado|Williamsburg]], and the town of Coal Creek is {{convert|3|mi|0}} to the southwest. [[Colorado State Highway 115]] runs northwest {{convert|9|mi|0}} to [[Cañon City, Colorado|Cañon City]] and northeast {{convert|6|mi|0}} to [[Penrose, Colorado|Penrose]], intersecting [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Route 50]] in each direction. [[Colorado State Highway 67]] leads north {{convert|3.5|mi}} to US 50 and south {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Wetmore, Colorado|Wetmore]]. [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] is {{convert|33|mi}} to the east via CO 115 and US 50.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the town had a total area of {{convert|11.091|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.015|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

Florence sits in the semi-arid high desert lands of southern Colorado.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1900= 3728
|1910= 2712
|1920= 2629
|1930= 2475
|1940= 2632
|1950= 2773
|1960= 2821
|1970= 2846
|1980= 2987
|1990= 2990
|2000= 3653
|2010= 3881
|2020= 3822
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,653 people, 1,488 households, and 973 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|897.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of {{convert|398.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.63% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 2.76% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 15.66% of the population.

There were 1,488 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,628, and the median income for a family was $39,276. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $22,042 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,969. About 12.5% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Government==
[[Federal Correctional Complex, Florence]], including [[USP Florence ADMAX]], the only federal [[supermax prison]] in the United States, is located near<!--It is NOT in the city limits of Florence!--> Florence in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/flm/|title=USP Florence ADMAX|website=www.bop.gov|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.florenceco.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/%7B1349C3AD-3029-4971-B421-8AF5DF6EF4AD%7D/uploads/%7B15478627-68C6-43E3-86C1-8B16ED42D3B6%7D.PDF Zoning Map]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120329184850/http://www.florenceco.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/%7B1349C3AD-3029-4971-B421-8AF5DF6EF4AD%7D/uploads/%7B15478627-68C6-43E3-86C1-8B16ED42D3B6%7D.PDF Archive]) City of Florence, Colorado. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.</ref>

==Education==
[[Fremont RE-2 School District]] operates public schools, including Penrose Elementary School, Florence Elementary School and [[Florence Junior/Senior High School]].

==Notable person==
* [[Thyra Thomson]], Wyoming Secretary of State<ref>{{cite news |last=Barron |first=Joan |date=June 12, 2013 |title=Former Wyoming Secretary of State Thomson dies |url=https://trib.com/news/state-regional/govt-and-politics/former-wyoming-secretary-of-state-thomson-dies/article_cfbde84a-28d6-5c3b-b88b-1f4cde6a36f2.html |work=[[Casper Star-Tribune]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Cities|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
**[[List of statistical areas in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
**[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://cityofflorence.colorado.gov/ City of Florence website]
*[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Florence.pdf CDOT map of the City of Florence]
*[https://finditinflorence.com/ Florence Chamber of Commerce]

{{Fremont County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|show}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Fremont County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Colorado]]