Editing Fort Garland, Colorado

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
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<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = Fort Garland, Colorado
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
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|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|Census Designated Place]]
|motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Fort Garland, Colorado.JPG
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|image_caption            = Fort Garland from the south.
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|image_map                = Costilla_County_Colorado_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fort_Garland_Highlighted.svg
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|map_caption              = Location of the Fort Garland CDP in {{nowrap|[[Costilla County, Colorado]].}}
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|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_label            = {{nowrap|Fort Garland}}
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|pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the Fort Garland CDP in the {{nowrap|[[United States]].}}
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<!-- 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        = [[Costilla County, Colorado|Costilla County]]
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<!-- Politics ----------------->
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|government_type          = [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated town]]
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|established_title        = Established
|established_date         = 1858
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<!-- Area    --------------------->
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|area_footnotes           = <ref name=CO_CDP_2020>{{cite web|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/Files/bvp20/tigerweb_bvp20_cdp_2020_co.html|title=State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 21, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 0.973
|area_land_km2            = 0.973
|area_water_km2           = 0
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Fort_Garland_CDP,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0827535 |title=Fort Garland CDP, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 2, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
|population_note          = 
|population_total               =   464
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<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
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|elevation_ft             = 7937
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
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|postal_code              = 81133
|area_code                = [[Area code 719|719]]
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|blank_info               = 2408238<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408238}}</ref>
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}}

'''Fort Garland''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated town]], a [[post office]], and a [[Census-designated place|census-designated place (CDP)]] located in and governed by [[Costilla County, Colorado|Costilla County]], [[Colorado]], [[United States]]. The Fort Garland post office has the [[ZIP Code]] 81133.<ref name=ZIPcode/> At the [[United States Census 2020]], the population of the Fort Garland CDP was 464.<ref name="Census 2020" /><!--, while the population of the 81133 [[ZIP Code Tabulation Area]] was 840 including adjacent areas.<ref name=2010DEC>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov|title=2010: DEC Summary File 1|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=December 21, 2020}}</ref>-->

==History==
Fort Garland was established by the [[US Army]] in June 1858 to protect settlers from the [[Ute tribe|Utes]] in the [[San Luis Valley]], which was then part of the [[New Mexico Territory]]. The fort was abandoned in 1883 following the confinement of the tribes to [[Ute people#Reservations|Indian reservation]] in Utah territory and Colorado. The Fort Garland Museum preserves some of the historic buildings from the fort.<ref>[http://www.sangres.com/colorado/costilla/fortgarland.htm Fort Garland]</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mount Lindsey and Iron Nipple.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Mount Lindsey and Iron Nipple, [[Sangre de Cristo Range]], taken from along C-159, about five miles south of Fort Garland]]
Fort Garland is located at an elevation of {{convert|7936|ft|abbr=on}} in northern [[Costilla County]].<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Fort Garland is at the crossroads of [[U.S. Route 160]] and [[Colorado State Highway 159]], which leads south towards [[Taos, New Mexico|Taos]] and [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]]. The town of [[Blanca, Colorado|Blanca]] is {{convert|4|mi|km}} west on [[U.S. Route 160]]. [[Walsenburg, Colorado|Walsenburg]] is {{convert|47|mi|km}} to the east, across the [[Sangre de Cristo Range]].

The Fort Garland CDP has an area of {{convert|0.973|km2|acres|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name=CO_CDP_2020/>
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==Demographics==
<!-- As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 432 people, 152 households, and 120 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|1,514.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 164 housing units at an average density of {{convert|574.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 53.01% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.69% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.93% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 36.81% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.09% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 72.22% of the population.

There were 152 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $18,929, and the median income for a family was $25,833. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $9,470.  About 23.4% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 28.9% of those age 65 or over.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}
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The [[United States Census Bureau]] initially defined the {{nowrap|Fort Garland CDP}} for the {{nowrap|[[United States Census 2000]].}}
{{Historical populations
|title  = Fort Garland CDP, Colorado
|type   = US
|align  = left
|source = [[United States Census Bureau]]
|2000|432
|2010|433
|2020|464
}}
{{clear|left}}

==Modern amenities==
[[File:Wagon and sign for the Ute Cafe in Fort Garland, Colorado LCCN2015632578.tif|thumb|left|300px|Ute Cafe in Fort Garland]]
Fort Garland is referred to as the "Gateway to the [[San Luis Valley]]", as it is the first town one encounters when traveling west having crossed over La Veta Pass in the [[Sangre de Cristo Range]]. Fort Garland is home to many artists, painters, crafters and internationally known musicians.

Fort Garland has a business district with two motels, several restaurants, the Old Fort Market grocery store, the Fort Garland Museum, two gas stations, two recreational marijuana shops, a car wash, hair salon, campgrounds, hardware store, liquor store, and multiple shops featuring collectibles and antiquities as well as a Wild West show.

The Annual Fort Garland Band Jam Music Festival features local and regional musicians, as well as nationally and internationally recognized musical talent. This summer event, usually held in mid-July, includes an open-air market, local food vendors offering up traditional and regional cuisine, a [[beer garden]], and children's activities. The music offered covers numerous styles, from traditional Spanish guitar to R&B to rock and roll.

The Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center is open to residents and the public on daily, monthly or annual fees.

The Entrada Visitor Center offers information on local and regional points of interest, such as the [[Great Sand Dunes National Park|Great Sand Dunes]], the Colorado 'Gator farm, [[UFO Watchtower]] and other activities located within the [[San Luis Valley]].
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==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Fort Garland]]
*[[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]]
*[[Spanish Fort (Colorado)|Spanish Fort]]
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links}}
*[https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fort-garland Fort Garland @ Colorado.com]
*[https://www.uncovercolorado.com/towns/fort-garland/ Fort Garland @ UncoverColorado.com]
*[http://www.sangres.com/colorado/costilla/fortgarland.htm Fort Garland @ Sangres.com]
*[https://www.historycolorado.org/fort-garland-museum-cultural-center Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center]
*[https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/fort-garland-0 Fort Garland @ ColoradoEncyclopedia.org]
*[https://armyhistory.org/fort-garland-colorado/ Fort Garland @ ArmyHistory.org]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/costillacounty Costilla County website]
{{Costilla County, Colorado|expanded}}
{{Forts in Colorado}}

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[[Category:Census-designated places in Costilla County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Colorado]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American history]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in New Mexico Territory]]