Editing Rocky Ford, Colorado

{{short description|City in Otero County, Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| name               = Rocky Ford, Colorado
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/municipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>
| motto              = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = Rocky Ford, CO, City Hall IMG_5665.JPG
| image_caption      = Rocky Ford City Hall (2010)
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = Otero County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rocky Ford Highlighted 0865190.svg
| map_caption        = Location within [[Otero County, Colorado|Otero County]] and [[Colorado]]
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_label      = {{nowrap|Rocky Ford}}
| pushpin_label_position = right<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within {{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  = [[Otero County, Colorado|Otero 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 31, 2021}}</ref>
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado|City]]
| subdivision_name3  = Rocky Ford<ref name=COMun/>
<!-- Politics ----------------->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Duane Gurulé<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cityofrockyfordco.gov/city-council-members |title=City Council |author=<!--City of Rocky Ford--> |date=2024 |website=The City of Rocky Ford |access-date=August 5, 2024 }}</ref>
| leader_title1      = Mayor
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = August 19, 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    --------------------->
| area_magnitude     = 
| 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_total_km2     = 4.38
| area_land_km2      = 4.35
| area_water_km2     = 0.04
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.69
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.68
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| 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/Rocky_Ford_city,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0865190 |title=Rocky Ford city; Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 21, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
| population_note    = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_total   = 3876
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information  --------------->| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset         = -7
| timezone_DST       = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -6
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|3|4|N|103|43|17|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GR3" />
| elevation_m        = 1274
| elevation_ft       = 4180
<!-- 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 = December 26, 2007}}</ref>
| postal_code        = 81067
| area_code          = [[Area code 719|719]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 08-65190
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature]]<ref name=GR3>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/board-on-geographic-names/domestic-names|title=U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Domestic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>
| blank1_info        = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:0195481 0195481]
| website            = {{URL|cityofrockyfordco.gov}}
}}

'''Rocky Ford''' is a [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory city|statutory city]] located in [[Otero County, Colorado|Otero County]], [[Colorado]], United States. The population was 3,876 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020" />

==History==
The community was named for a rocky ford across the [[Arkansas River]] near the original town site.<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|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=49|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=43}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.58% is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 47
|1890= 468
|1900= 2018
|1910= 3230
|1920= 3746
|1930= 3426
|1940= 3493
|1950= 4087
|1960= 4929
|1970= 4859
|1980= 4804
|1990= 4162
|2000= 4286
|2010= 3957
|2020= 3876
|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 2000, there were 4,286 people, 1,655 households, and 1,136 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,521.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,089.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.40% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.47% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.75% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 21.86% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.99% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 57.14% of the population.

There were 1,655 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,359, and the median income for a family was $29,470. Males had a median income of $26,271 versus $17,485 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,742. About 14.6% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Rocky Ford is noted for its watermelon, cantaloupe and agriculture due to its soil content and fluctuation in temperatures providing great growing conditions.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QVhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=po0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6768%2C1589033 | title=Colorado more than mountains | work=Boca Raton News | date=November 6, 1983 | access-date=May 7, 2015 | pages=2}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Rocky Ford is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is along the Lamar-Pueblo-Colorado Springs Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

==Notable people==
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Rocky Ford include:

* [[Lewis Babcock]] (1943- ), judge
* [[Marvin Cordova, Jr.]] (1985- ), light welterweight boxer<ref>{{cite web | title = Marvin Cordova Jr | publisher = BoxRec | url = http://boxrec.com/boxer/265890 | access-date = June 24, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Paul Gebhard]] (1917–2015), anthropologist, sexologist<ref>{{cite news | last = Roberts | first = Sam | title = Paul Gebhard, Sex Researcher Who Worked With Kinsey, Dies at 98 | newspaper = The New York Times | date = July 22, 2015 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/23/us/paul-gebhard-sex-researcher-who-worked-with-kinsey-dies-at-98.html?ref=obituaries | access-date = June 24, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Blaine Gibson (sculptor)|Blaine Gibson]] (1918–2015), [[Walt Disney Company|Disney]] sculptor ([[The Hall of Presidents]], [[The Haunted Mansion|Haunted Mansion]], [[Pirates of the Caribbean (attraction)|Pirates of the Caribbean]]) and animator<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|first=David |last=Colker |title=Blaine Gibson dies at 97; prominent sculptor, animator at Disney |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-blaine-gibson-20150709-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|first=Bruce |last=Weber |title=Blaine Gibson, Sculptor of Figures in Disney Parks, Dies at 97 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/arts/design/blaine-gibson-sculptor-of-figures-in-disney-parks-dies-at-97.html?_r=0 |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Earl T. Newbry]] (1900–1995), Oregon Secretary of State<ref>{{cite web | title = Oregon Secretary of State Agency History, page 15 | publisher = Oregon Blue Book | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/7589712 | access-date = April 28, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Manuel T. Pacheco]] (1941- ), university president<ref>{{cite web | title = Manuel Trinidad Pacheco | publisher = University of Arizona | url = http://president.arizona.edu/president/manuel-trinidad-pacheco | access-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160811131724/http://president.arizona.edu/president/manuel-trinidad-pacheco | archive-date = August 11, 2016 }}</ref>
* [[George W. Swink]] (1836–1910), land developer, fruit grower<ref>{{cite web | title = Our History | publisher = Rocky Ford Growers Association | url = http://www.rockyfordgrowersassociation.com/our-history/ | access-date = June 24, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Robert Swink]] (1918–2000), film editor
* [[John D. Vanderhoof]] (1922–2013), 37th governor of Colorado<ref>{{cite news | agency = AP | title = Former Colorado Gov. Vanderhoof dies at 91 | newspaper = The Denver Post | date = September 23, 2013 | url = http://www.denverpost.com/2013/09/23/former-colorado-gov-vanderhoof-dies-at-91/ | access-date = June 24, 2016}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rocky Ford, Colorado}}
* {{official website|https://cityofrockyford.colorado.gov}}
* [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/ROCKY%20FORD.pdf CDOT map of the City of Rocky Ford]

{{Otero County, Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Otero County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]