Editing Penrose, Colorado

{{short description|Unincorporated community in Fremont County, Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
 | official_name            = Penrose, Colorado
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
 | nickname                 = "Model Rocket Capital of the World"<ref>{{cite web|title=About Estes|url=http://www.estesrockets.com/about-estes|accessdate=10 January 2014}}</ref>
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|Census Designated Place]]
 | motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
 | image_skyline            = Penrose, Colorado 2023.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = Looking east along Broadway, Penrose's main street
 | image_flag               = 
 | flag_size                = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_map                = Fremont County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Penrose Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_caption              = Location of the Penrose CDP in {{nowrap|[[Fremont County, Colorado]].}}
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | image_dot_map            = 
 | pushpin_map              = USA
 | pushpin_label            = Penrose
 | pushpin_label_position   = right
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the Penrose CDP in the {{nowrap|[[United States]].}}
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- 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]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
 | subdivision_type4        = 
 | subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | 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       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
 | established_date2        = 
 | established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
 | established_date3        = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | 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 22, 2020}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 46.221
 | area_land_km2            = 46.221
 | area_water_km2           = 0.000
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 
 | area_water_percent       = 
 | area_urban_km2           = 
 | area_urban_sq_mi         = 
 | area_metro_km2           = 
 | area_metro_sq_mi         = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Penrose_CDP,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0858400 |title=Penrose CDP, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=March 31, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 3,685
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_metro_km2 = 
 | population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
 | population_urban         = 
 | population_density_urban_km2 = 
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 <!-- General information  --------------->
 | timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
 | utc_offset               = -7
 | timezone_DST             = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = -6
 | coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CO_CDP_2020/>
 | coordinates              = {{coord|38|25|17|N|105|00|01|W|region:US-CO_type:city|name=Penrose CDP, Colorado|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 5309
<!-- Area, postal, and other codes -------->
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookup|title=Look Up a ZIP Code|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
 | postal_code              = 81240
 | area_code                = [[Area code 719|719]]
 | blank_name               = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
 | blank_info               = 2409053<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409053}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = 
 | blank1_info              = 
 | website                  = https://www.penrosechamber.org/
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Penrose''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) and [[post office]] located in and governed by [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]], [[Colorado]], United States. The CDP is a part of the [[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. The Penrose post office has the [[ZIP Code]] 81240.<ref name=ZIPcode/> At the [[United States Census 2020]], the population of the Penrose CDP was 3,685.<ref name="Census 2020" /><!--, while the population of the 81240 [[ZIP Code Tabulation Area]] was 4,323 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 22, 2020}}</ref>-->

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

Settlers followed the [[Pike's Peak gold rush]] (July 1858 and lasted until the creation of the [[Territory of Colorado]] on February 28, 1861). Farmers were incentivized by the [[Homestead Act]] to come to the area.<ref name="Harmon">{{Cite news |last=Harmon |first=Tracy |title=Stage stop, school catered to pioneers, miners seeking riches |url=https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/local/2018/05/13/stage-stop-school-catered-to/9280350007/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |work=The Pueblo Chieftain |language=en-US}}</ref> A stage coach stop was established along Beaver Creek, which was known as the Beaver Creek settlement initially,<ref name="Harmon" /><ref name="Place Names" /> with a post office there by 1868.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_LFi9fEMbKEC&q=%2522Fremont%2520County%2522&hl=en |title=List of Post Offices and Postmasters in the United States |date=1868 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=176 |language=en}}</ref> Then, the settlement became known as [[Glendale, Colorado Territory|Glendale]].<ref name="Harmon" /><ref name="Place Names" />  It had a stagecoach stop and hotel named Glendale Inn Stage Coach Stop<ref name="Google map">{{Citation |title=Glendale Inn Stage Coach Stop, Penrose, Colorado (38.44, -104.97) |work=Google}}</ref> as well as other names. A school was established there in 1868 and operated until 1912, when a school was established in Penrose.<ref name="Harmon" /> It is east or the eastern part of present-day Penrose.<ref name="Place Names">{{Cite web |date=1999 |title=Place Names of Colorado: Beaver Creek (Glendale, Penrose) | page=42 |url=https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/Place_Names_of_Colorado.pdf |website=Denver Public Library | editor1=Elliott, Donald R. Elliott |editor2=Elliot, Doris L. (Salmen) }}</ref>

The community was named after [[Spencer Penrose]].<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=46|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=40}}</ref>

Penrose gained national media attention after a local funeral home, the Return to Nature Funeral Home, was raided by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office in October 2023 due to complaints of a foul smell emanating from the area. The raid revealed 189 improperly-stored dead bodies. The FBI is currently helping with the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=<!-- 2:55 PM MDT --> October 21, 2023 |title=FBI describes removing nearly 200 bodies from Colorado funeral home |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/colorado-news/200-bodies-removed-colorado-funeral-home/73-d6499f34-95ac-4b98-8664-d95dcd1a515f |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=KUSA.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2024, the Funeral Home owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for misusing relief money.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kktv.com/2024/10/24/colorado-funeral-home-owners-take-plea-deal-tied-federal-case/|title=Colorado funeral home owners take plea deal tied to federal case|last=Henry|first=Melissa|agency=KKTV|date=October 23, 2024|accessdate=October 26, 2024}}</ref> They are also facing charges in state court for abusing corpses, money laundering, theft and forgery.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/return-to-nature-funeral-home-owners-expected-in-court-thursday-to-change-pleas-to-guilty|title=Return to Nature Funeral Home owners accept federal plea deal in court Thursday|last1=Bryan|first1=Maggie|last2=Sam|first2=Kierra|last3=Hulting|first3=Aidan|agency=KOAA-TV|date=October 24, 2024|accessdate=October 26, 2024}}</ref> In November 2024, the Hallford's pleaded guilty in state court to multiple counts of abusing corpses. They are slated to be sentenced the following year for both cases against them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/us/colorado-funeral-home-guilty-corpse-abuse.html|title=Owners of Colorado Funeral Home Admit to Abusing Nearly 200 Corpses|last=Sanders|first=Hank|agency=The New York Times|date=November 23, 2024|accessdate=November 26, 2024}}</ref> In March 2025, Carie Hallford withdrew her guilty plea in federal court and is now facing trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gazette.com/news/courts/carie-hallford-withdraws-guilty-plea-in-federal-court-instead-will-face-trial/article_e9cb02de-f942-11ef-af15-172918bec91b.html|title=Carie Hallford withdraws guilty plea in federal court, instead will face trial|last=Dupont|first=Zachary|agency=The Gazette|date=March 4, 2025|accessdate=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
The Penrose CDP has an area of {{convert|46.221|km2|acres|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name=CO_CDP_2020/>

==Demographics==
The [[United States Census Bureau]] initially defined the {{nowrap|Penrose CDP}} for the {{nowrap|[[1990 United States census]].}}
{{Historical populations|align  = left
|title  = Penrose CDP, Colorado
|type   = US
|source = [[United States Census Bureau]]
|1990|2,235
|2000|4,070
|2010|3,582
|2020|3685
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8" /> of 2010, there were 3,582 people, 1,454 households, and 1,044 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|107.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,575 housing units at an average density of {{convert|47.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.7% of the population.

There were 1,454 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 19, 3.9% from 20 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 17% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years, jumping up from 39 years in the 2000 census. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

According to the American Community Survey (2008–2012),<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-05-14|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> the median income for a household in the CDP was $47,951, up from $35,638 in the 2000 Census, and the median income for a family was $54,693. Males had a median income of $49,125 versus $35,093 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $22,774. About 14.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
Penrose is located just north of the intersection of [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|US 50]] and [[Colorado State Highway 115|SH 115]]; 115 runs north {{convert|34|mi}} to become Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs. Penrose lies between [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]], {{convert|30|mi}} to the southeast, and [[Cañon City, Colorado|Cañon City]], {{convert|12|mi}} to the west, on US 50. Rail service existed briefly before World War I. The Fremont County Airport (1V6),<ref>[http://www.fremontco.com/airport/index.shtml Fremont County airport]- Retrieved 2012-01-12</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fremont County Airport|url=http://www.fremontco.com/airport/index.shtml|accessdate=10 January 2014}}</ref> usually called the Cañon City airport, actually has a Penrose address. Penrose is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=CO|US|50}}
* {{jct|state=CO|SH|115}}
* {{jct|state=CO|SH|120}}

==Economics==
Many residents commute to work in Colorado Springs, or at the prisons of Florence or Cañon City, or at [[Holcim]] in [[Portland, Fremont County, Colorado|Portland]], southeast of town. Penrose has a single traffic light, a volunteer-run fire station, a trucking company, a gas station, a [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] hall, an elementary school (graduates attend high school in [[Florence, Colorado|Florence]]), a doctor's office, a post office, a library, a small grocery store, the [[Estes Industries]] model rocket factory, three small restaurants, and several other businesses.

==Education==
[[Fremont RE-2 School District]] operates Penrose Elementary School. It also operates a 7–12 school in [[Florence, Colorado|Florence]]: [[Florence Junior/Senior High School]].
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Colorado]]

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

==External links==
{{commons category|Penrose, Colorado}}
* [https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/penrose Penrose @ Colorado.com]
* [https://www.uncovercolorado.com/towns/penrose/ Penrose @ UncoverColorado.com]
* [https://www.penrosechamber.org/ Penrose Chamber of Commerce]
** [https://www.penrosechamber.org/local-history Penrose history]
* [https://www.fremontco.com/ Fremont County website]

{{Fremont County, Colorado}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Fremont County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Colorado]]