Editing Idaho Springs, Colorado

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info ---------------->| name                     = Idaho Springs, Colorado
| native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/municipalities.jsf|title=Active List of municipalities in Colorado|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref>
| official_name            = City of Idaho Springs<ref name=COMun/>
<!-- images and maps ----------->| image_skyline            = Idaho Springs in 2006.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Aerial view from the east in 2006
| image_flag               = 
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| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = 
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| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = “Where The Gold Rush Began”
| image_map                = Clear Creek County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Idaho Springs Highlighted 0838370.svg
| map_caption              = Location in {{nowrap|[[Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
}}
| pushpin_map              = USA
| pushpin_label            = Idaho Springs
| pushpin_label_position   = right
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the [[United States]]
<!-- Location ------------------>| coordinates              = {{coord|39|44|33|N|105|30|49|W|region:US-CO|display=it}}<ref name=gnis/>
| 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        = [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek 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 28, 2021}}</ref>
| subdivision_type3        = [[List of municipalities in Colorado|City]]
| subdivision_name3        = Idaho Springs<ref name=COMun/>
<!-- Politics ----------------->| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1859
| established_title2       = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2        = 1885-11-15<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 --------------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Chuck Harmon<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.idahospringsco.com/council.html | title = City Council - City of Idaho Springs | publisher = City of Idaho Springs | access-date = October 12, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071218163654/http://www.idahospringsco.com/council.html | archive-date = December 18, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1             = 
| unit_pref                = US
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 5.92
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.28
| area_land_km2            = 5.83
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.25
| area_water_km2           = 0.09
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 7526
<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total         = 1782
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Idaho_Springs_city,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0838370 |title=Idaho Springs city; Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 28, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
<!-- 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=October 12, 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              = 80452
| area_code                = [[Area code 303|303]] and [[Area code 720|720]]
| website                  = {{URL|www.colorado.gov/idahosprings}}
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| leader_title2            = 
| leader_name2             = 
| timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
| utc_offset               = -7
| timezone_DST             = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = -6
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 08-38370
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]] 
| blank1_info              = 204710<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|204710}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

The '''City of Idaho Springs''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city|statutory city]] that is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in [[Clear Creek County, Colorado]], United States. Idaho Springs is a part of the [[Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]] it had a population of 1,782.<ref name="Census 2020" /> Idaho Springs is located in [[Clear Creek (Colorado)|Clear Creek Canyon]], in the mountains upstream from [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]], some {{convert|30|mi||-1}} west of [[Denver]].

Founded {{Years or months ago|1859}} in 1859 by prospectors during the early days of the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]], the town was at the center of the region's mining district throughout the late nineteenth century. The [[Argo Tunnel]] drained and provided access to many lodes of ore between Idaho Springs and [[Central City, Colorado|Central City]]. During the late twentieth century, the town evolved into a tourist center along [[U.S. Route 6 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 6]] and [[U.S. Route 40 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 40]], which ascend Clear Creek Canyon through the historic mining district.

The town today is squeezed along the north side of [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]], with a historical downtown in the central portion, a strip of tourist-related businesses on its eastern end, and mostly residences on its western end. It also serves as a [[bedroom community]] for workers at the [[Loveland Ski Area]] farther up the canyon. The town today is the largest community in Clear Creek County, but, for historical reasons, the county seat has remained at [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]].

==History==
{{further|Idaho#Etymology}}
[[File:Bird's eye view of Idaho Springs Colorado - DPLA - 0a7eeaaa1b1b23cb89ce45f1f95fb917.jpg|right|thumb|Bird's eye view of Idaho Springs Colorado, 1882]]
On January 5, 1859, during the [[Colorado gold rush]], prospector George A. Jackson discovered [[placer gold]] at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into [[Clear Creek (Colorado)|Clear Creek]]. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado. Jackson, a [[Missouri]] native with experience in the [[California Gold Rush|California gold fields]], was drawn to the area by clouds of steam rising from some nearby [[hot spring]]s. Jackson kept his find secret for several months, but after he paid for some supplies with gold dust, others rushed to Jackson's diggings.<ref>Robert L. Brown (1985) ''The Great Pikes Peak Gold Rush'', Caldwell, Ida.: Caxton, p.26-32.</ref> The location was originally known as "Jackson's Diggings". Once the location became a permanent settlement, it was variously called "Sacramento City", "Idahoe", "Idaho", "Idaho City", and finally "Idaho Springs".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=106:3:3594750213174340::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:204710%2CIdaho%20Springs|title= US Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System|access-date= January 10, 2009}} {{dead link|date=April 2023}}</ref>

The first placer discoveries were soon followed by discoveries of gold veins in the rocks of the canyon walls on both sides of Clear Creek. [[Hard rock mining]] became the mainstay of the town long after the gold-bearing gravels were exhausted.

The [[Idaho Springs miners' strike of 1903]] demanding an [[eight-hour day]] erupted into violence in May 1903. This was a conflict was a part the much broader [[Colorado Labor Wars]], where the Western Federation of Miners sought to pressure mining companies into improving conditions for miners.

The 1969 film ''[[Downhill Racer]]'' portrayed an [[Alpine skiing|alpine ski racer]] from Idaho Springs, played by [[Robert Redford]]; a brief scene was shot on location in Idaho Springs. Several scenes from the comedy film ''[[The Overbrook Brothers]]'' were filmed here in the spring of 2008.

==Geography==
[[File:Idaho in 1866 - DPLA - 59d687641ee6bed0f8d9221c6e6705fa.jpg|left|thumb|Reproduction of ink rendering; shows Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado.]]
Idaho Springs is located in northeastern Clear Creek County along [[Clear Creek (Colorado)|Clear Creek]] near the confluence of its tributary, Chicago Creek.<ref>''Idaho Springs, Colorado,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1957 (1987 rev.)</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.7|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.09|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 1.53%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0838370| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212174522/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0838370| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Idaho Springs city, Colorado| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=June 20, 2014}}</ref>
{{clearleft}}
===Climate===
Idaho Springs has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen]]: Dfb) with moderately cold winters and warm summers with cool nights. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 72 inches (183&nbsp;cm).<ref>{{Cite web|title=IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO - Climate Summary|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?co4234|website=wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>

Idaho Springs is notable for having relatively even levels of precipitation between all months. An average of 40 inches of precipitation fall each year.<ref>{{cite web  
|title=Climate Idaho Springs  
|url=https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/colorado/idaho-springs-16447/  
|website=Climate-Data.org  
|access-date=16 June 2024  
}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Idaho Springs, Colorado (Elevation 7,555ft) 
|width = auto
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 67
|Mar record high F = 73
|Apr record high F = 78
|May record high F = 89
|Jun record high F = 95
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 91
|Sep record high F = 92
|Oct record high F = 83
|Nov record high F = 73
|Dec record high F = 66
|year record high F = 95
|Jan high F = 38.8
|Feb high F = 40.9
|Mar high F = 45.5
|Apr high F = 53.6
|May high F = 62.1
|Jun high F = 72.8
|Jul high F = 77.4
|Aug high F = 76.1
|Sep high F = 69.8
|Oct high F = 59.3
|Nov high F = 47.3
|Dec high F = 39.9
|year high F = 57.0
|Jan low F = 15.1
|Feb low F = 16.0
|Mar low F = 19.8
|Apr low F = 27.0
|May low F = 34.4
|Jun low F = 41.8
|Jul low F = 47.6
|Aug low F = 46.4
|Sep low F = 39.1
|Oct low F = 30.4
|Nov low F = 22.3
|Dec low F = 16.5
|year low F = 29.7
|Jan record low F = −32
|Feb record low F = −29
|Mar record low F = −23
|Apr record low F = -6
|May record low F = 8
|Jun record low F = 23
|Jul record low F = 28
|Aug record low F = 28
|Sep record low F = 14
|Oct record low F = -5
|Nov record low F = −21
|Dec record low F = −24
|year record low F = −32
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.33
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.50
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.90
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.78
|May precipitation inch = 1.94
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.50
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.59
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.36
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.99
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.64
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.47
|year precipitation inch = 15.05
|Jan snow inch = 5.4
|Feb snow inch = 8.5
|Mar snow inch = 12.3
|Apr snow inch = 15.1
|May snow inch = 5.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.4
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 1.9
|Oct snow inch = 7.4
|Nov snow inch = 8.6
|Dec snow inch = 7.2
|year snow inch = 72.0
|source 1 = The Western Regional Climate Center<ref name="WRCC">{{cite web
| url =http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?co4234| title =Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information | access-date =November 18, 2013 | publisher =Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref>
|date=November 2013
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 229
|1880= 733
|1890= 1338
|1900= 2502
|1910= 2154
|1920= 1192
|1930= 1207
|1940= 2112
|1950= 1769
|1960= 1480
|1970= 2003
|1980= 2077
|1990= 1834
|2000= 1889
|2010= 1717
|2020= 1782
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

[[Image:Colorado and Southern Railroad, Idaho Springs, CO IMG 5426.JPG|thumb|right|[[Colorado and Southern Railroad]] locomotive on exhibit in Idaho Springs]]

<!--As of the census of 2010, there were 1,717 people and 934 housing units.<ref name="Census 2010"/> As of the census of 2000,<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> there were 485 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1820.1|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 904 housing units at an average density of {{convert|871.0|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.71% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.74% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.54% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.48% from two or more races. 5.03% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 841 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $48,790. Males had a median income of $35,446 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,789. About 2.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.-->

==Education==
Idaho Springs Public Schools are part of the [[Clear Creek School District RE-1]]. There are two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one charter school. Students attend [[Clear Creek High School (Colorado)|Clear Creek High School]].

Carlson Elementary School is located in Idaho Springs.

Karen Quanbeck is the Interim Superintendent of Schools.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.clearcreekcourant.com/content/middle-school-principal-named-interim-superintendent| title= Middle school principal named interim superintendent| publisher= Clear Creek Courant| access-date= May 25, 2014| archive-date= September 10, 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150910050730/http://www.clearcreekcourant.com/content/middle-school-principal-named-interim-superintendent| url-status= dead}}</ref>

== Culture ==
Idaho Springs is the birthplace of [[Colorado-style pizza]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wild and Woolly Story of Colorado-Style Pizza - PMQ Pizza Magazine |url=https://www.pmq.com/colorado-style-pizza/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=www.pmq.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boster |first=Seth Boster |date=January 14, 2022 |title=The unlikely story of how 'Colorado-style' pizza was born {{!}} Craving Colorado |url=https://gazette.com/life/the-unlikely-story-of-how-colorado-style-pizza-was-born-craving-colorado/article_c9e6e878-5dc0-11ec-b37c-4be675fc8211.html |access-date=June 14, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Idaho Springs is incorporated into the [[Colorado Department of Transportation | Colorado Department of Transportation's]] [[Bustang]] network. It is part of the West Line, which connects Denver to Grand Junction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/#west |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=November 30, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/#west |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
''Beaus of Holly'', a -TV Christmas movie produced in 2020 for the ION Channel, was filmed in Idaho Springs. The fictional mining town of Haven Springs in the video game [[Life Is Strange: True Colors]] is inspired by Idaho Springs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beaus of Holly (2020 TV Movie) Filming & Production |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13484446/locations?ref_=ttfc_sa_4 |website=IMDB.com |access-date=June 26, 2021}}</ref>
{{clearleft}}
==Notable people==
*[[Gus Alberts]], Major League Baseball player
*[[Joseph H. August]], [[cinematographer]]
*[[Warren A. Haggott]], [[U.S. Representative]] from Colorado
*[[Paul M. Lewis (car builder)|Paul M. Lewis]], entrepreneur and car builder
*[[Pete Morrison]], silent western [[film actor]]
*[[Haleigh Washington]], Olympic Gold medalist in Women’s Volleyball at [[2020 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Jennifer Whalen (cyclist)|Jennifer Whalen]], professional [[mountain bike]] racer

==Points of interest==
* [[Argo Gold Mine and Mill]] - The mill and museum are open for tours.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.historicargotours.com/history.html |title=Argo Mine |access-date=March 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329012616/http://www.historicargotours.com/history.html |archive-date=March 29, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Statue of cartoon character [[Steve Canyon]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/COIDAstevecanyon.html| title = Steve Canyon}}</ref>
* The [[Charlie Taylor Water Wheel]] - a [[water wheel]] built by miner Charlie Taylor in 1893 to power a [[stamp mill]].  Moved to its present location south of US 6 and US 40 in 1948 and restored in 1988. Fed by [[Bridal Veil Falls (Idaho Springs)|Bridal Veil Falls]], a small waterfall, visible to the south of eastbound [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|I-70]].<ref name=ClearCreek365>{{cite web|title=Historic Clear Creek County|url=http://clearcreekcounty.org/historic-clear-creek-county/|work=Clear Creek 365|publisher=Clear Creek County|access-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005001154/http://clearcreekcounty.org/historic-clear-creek-county/|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Mount Blue Sky]] - The mountain is located about 28 miles south of Idaho Springs.
* Indian Hot Springs<ref name="The Know-DP">{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Joshua |title=5 hot springs around Colorado to keep you warm this winter |url=https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/12/04/hot-springs-colorado-winter/202453/ |access-date=September 17, 2020 |publisher=The Know - special to The Denver Post |date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Arapaho National Forest]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{NIE Poster|Idaho Springs}}
* {{Commonscatinline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Idaho Springs}}
* [http://www.idahospringsco.com/ City of Idaho Springs official website]
* [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/IDAHO%20SPRINGS.pdf CDOT map of the City of Idaho Springs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041824/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Idaho%20Springs.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}
* [http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/idaho-springs/ Idaho Springs Photos and Information at Western Mining History]
<!-- {{Coord|display=title|39.742456|-105.514391}} -->
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{{Clear Creek County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado|collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:Hot springs of Colorado]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Kansas Territory]]