Editing Salida, Colorado

{{short description|City in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Salida, Colorado
|nickname                 = '''Heart of the Rockies'''
|settlement_type          = [[List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory city|Statutory City]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|motto                    = "Union, Justice, Safety"
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Arkansas river salida co.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = The Arkansas River Walk in downtown Salida.
|image_map                = Chaffee County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Salida Highlighted 0867280.svg
|map_caption              = Location of the City of Salida in {{nowrap|[[Chaffee County, Colorado]].}}
<!-- Pushpin map -->
|pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief          = 
|pushpin_label           = Salida
|pushpin_label_position  = right
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the City of Salida, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|38.5347|-105.9989|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204758|name=Salida, Colorado|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|elevation_ft            = 7084
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1       = {{flag|Colorado}}
|subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee County]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory city|Statutory city]]<ref name=COMun/>
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name             = 
|leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1880
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = March 23, 1891<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
|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           = 7.17
|area_land_km2            = 7.17
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.77
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.77
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Salida_city,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0867280 |title=Salida city; Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 28, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 5666
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = &minus;7
|timezone_DST             = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = &minus;6
<!-- 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=January 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903025217/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=September 3, 2007 }}</ref>
|postal_code              = 81201, 81227 ([[PO Box]]), 81237
|area_code                = [[Area code 719|719]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|08|67280}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|204758}}
|website                  = {{Official website|http://cityofsalida.com/}}
}}

'''Salida''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|l|aɪ|d|ə}} {{Respell|sə|LY|də}}; [[Spanish language]]: {{IPA|es|saˈliða|}}, "exit") is the [[Colorado municipalities#Statutory city|statutory city]] that is the [[county seat]] and the [[List of cities and towns in Colorado|most populous municipality]] of [[Chaffee County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 5,666 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Salida city, Colorado|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/salidacitycolorado|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The Arkansas, Colorado, post office opened on June 16, 1880, but was renamed Salida on March 28, 1881.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> Salida, meaning "exit" in Spanish, was named on account of its location near the point where the [[Arkansas River]] flows out of the valley and into Bighorn Sheep Canyon, upstream from the [[Royal Gorge]].<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=50|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=44}}</ref> The Town of Salida was incorporated on March 23, 1891.<ref name=MuniIncCO/>

The [[Denver & Rio Grande Railroad]] built their 3 foot [[Narrow-gauge railroads in the United States|narrow-gauge]] railroad up from [[Texas Creek, Colorado|Texas Creek]] and built a station at Salida, known at the time as "South Arkansas" in 1880.<ref name="Wilkins74">{{cite book |last1=Wilkins |first1=Tivis E. |title=Colorado railroads: chronological development |date=1974 |publisher=Pruett Pub. Co |location=Boulder, Colo |isbn=0-87108-073-7 |page=33 |edition=1st}}</ref> bypassing the nearby community of Cleora.  Rather than risk their settlement withering away from lack of rail service, it is said that the population of Cleora moved to Salida ''en masse''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Wolmar | first = Christian | author-link = Christian Wolmar | year = 2012 | title = The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America | location = New York | publisher = Public Affairs | isbn = 978-1-61039-347-8|page=221}}</ref> That same year, the railroad continued from "South Arkansas," following up the Arkansas river, connecting with the rich silver mines of [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]]. Later that year, the Rio Grande connected South Arkansas to Poncha Junction. This small start would connect via [[Marshall Pass]] with the western slope and [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]], turning the newly re-christened Salida into an important junction in the early history of Colorado.<ref name="Wilkins74" /> In 1890, the railroad laid an additional third rail through Salida, but only on the line towards [[Tennessee Pass (Colorado)|Tennessee Pass]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=LeMassena |first1=Robert A. |title=Rio Grande to the Pacific |date=1974 |publisher=Sundance Publications Ltd |isbn=0913582107 |page=57 |edition=2nd}}</ref> As a result, Salida became known as a tourist and railroad enthusiast mecca into the mid-20th century.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalmbach |first1=Al |title=Trains, November 1941 |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/magazine/archive-access/trains-november-1941/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=Trains |volume=2 |issue=1 |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee Wisc |quote=Salida, Colo., Mecca of the railfan; Salida, with big D&RGW articulateds huffing after the climb over Tennessee Pass, top of the world; Salida, with tiny narrow gauge engines starting southwest for their uncompromising attack on the Rockies. The spirit of Salida has been truly captured in "Salida Yards at Sunrise," as Jim Morley, ... Berkeley, Calif., calls his photo.}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.77|sqmi}}, and the [[Arkansas River]], which runs through the town, is the major source of water for local agriculture.

The [[Sawatch Range]] runs north and south and is located roughly {{convert|10|mi|0}} west of Salida. The [[Mosquito Range]] parallels the Sawatch Range to the east, forming the Upper Arkansas Valley, and the southern terminus of the range, just east of Salida, is known locally as the [[Arkansas Hills]]. [[Methodist Mountain]], which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in the [[Sangre de Cristo Mountains]]. To the north of Salida is the Upper Arkansas Valley and the town of [[Buena Vista, Colorado|Buena Vista]].

[[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Route 50]] runs along the southern edge of the city and leads east down the Arkansas River {{convert|58|mi}} to [[Cañon City, Colorado|Cañon City]]; to the west it leads {{convert|4|mi|0}} to [[Poncha Springs, Colorado|Poncha Springs]] and {{convert|63|mi}} over the [[Continental Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide]] to [[Gunnison, Colorado|Gunnison]]. [[Canon City, Colorado|Canon City]] and [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] lie to the east.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Salida has a [[Cold semi-arid climate]] (BSk)

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Salida, Colorado (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–1923, 1931–2017)
 | Jan record high F  = 65
 | Feb record high F  = 71
 | Mar record high F  = 77
 | Apr record high F  = 82
 | May record high F  = 93
 | Jun record high F  = 98
 | Jul record high F  = 103
 | Aug record high F  = 100
 | Sep record high F  = 94
 | Oct record high F  = 85
 | Nov record high F  = 80
 | Dec record high F  = 70
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 57.9
|Feb avg record high F = 60.0
|Mar avg record high F = 67.7
|Apr avg record high F = 75.3
|May avg record high F = 83.0
|Jun avg record high F = 91.1
|Jul avg record high F = 93.9
|Aug avg record high F = 89.9
|Sep avg record high F = 85.6
|Oct avg record high F = 78.2
|Nov avg record high F = 66.9
|Dec avg record high F = 58.0
|year avg record high F = 94.3

 | Jan high F = 43.4
 | Feb high F = 45.5
 | Mar high F = 54.0
 | Apr high F = 60.3
 | May high F = 70.2
 | Jun high F = 82.0
 | Jul high F = 85.8
 | Aug high F = 83.1
 | Sep high F = 77.0
 | Oct high F = 65.4
 | Nov high F = 52.7
 | Dec high F = 43.2
 | year high F = 63.6
 | Jan mean F = 27.4
 | Feb mean F = 30.1
 | Mar mean F = 37.5
 | Apr mean F = 44.0
 | May mean F = 52.4
 | Jun mean F = 62.7
 | Jul mean F = 67.4
 | Aug mean F = 65.1
 | Sep mean F = 58.0
 | Oct mean F = 47.1
 | Nov mean F = 36.1
 | Dec mean F = 27.9
 | year mean F = 46.3
 | Jan low F = 11.5
 | Feb low F = 14.8
 | Mar low F = 21.0
 | Apr low F = 27.7
 | May low F = 34.6
 | Jun low F = 43.4
 | Jul low F = 49.1
 | Aug low F = 47.2
 | Sep low F = 38.9
 | Oct low F = 28.9
 | Nov low F = 19.5
 | Dec low F = 12.6
 | year low F = 29.1

|Jan avg record low F = -5.1
|Feb avg record low F = -6.3
|Mar avg record low F = 5.4
|Apr avg record low F = 12.5
|May avg record low F = 23.4
|Jun avg record low F = 32.4
|Jul avg record low F = 40.6
|Aug avg record low F = 38.4
|Sep avg record low F = 26.6
|Oct avg record low F = 14.0
|Nov avg record low F = 1.6
|Dec avg record low F = -7.3
|year avg record low F = -15.7

 | Jan record low F  = -35
 | Feb record low F  = -33
 | Mar record low F  = -21
 | Apr record low F  = -8
 | May record low F  = 13
 | Jun record low F  = 23
 | Jul record low F  = 30
 | Aug record low F  = 31
 | Sep record low F  = 14
 | Oct record low F  = -4
 | Nov record low F  = -20
 | Dec record low F  = -31
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 0.31
 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.27
 | Mar precipitation inch = 0.69
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.05
 | May precipitation inch = 0.96
 | Jun precipitation inch = 0.50
 | Jul precipitation inch = 1.36
 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.46
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.67
 | Oct precipitation inch = 0.87
 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.25
 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.38
 | year precipitation inch = 8.77
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 2.3
 | Feb precipitation days  = 2.4
 | Mar precipitation days  = 3.9
 | Apr precipitation days  = 4.7
 | May precipitation days  = 5.0
 | Jun precipitation days  = 4.3
 | Jul precipitation days  = 8.3
 | Aug precipitation days  = 9.9
 | Sep precipitation days  = 5.1
 | Oct precipitation days  = 4.9
 | Nov precipitation days  = 3.1
 | Dec precipitation days  = 3.0
 | year precipitation days = 56.9
 | Jan snow inch = 4.0
 | Feb snow inch = 4.1
 | Mar snow inch = 6.5
 | Apr snow inch = 8.0
 | May snow inch = 2.7
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 2.6
 | Nov snow inch = 4.1
 | Dec snow inch = 4.7
 | year snow inch = 36.7
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 2.1
 | Feb snow days  = 2.2
 | Mar snow days  = 2.4
 | Apr snow days  = 2.6
 | May snow days  = 0.6
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 1.1
 | Nov snow days  = 2.3
 | Dec snow days  = 3.0
 | year snow days = 16.3
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] (mean maxima/minima 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pub
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00057370&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = December 11, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2586
|1900= 3722
|1910= 4425
|1920= 4689
|1930= 5065
|1940= 4969
|1950= 4553
|1960= 4560
|1970= 4355
|1980= 4870
|1990= 4737
|2000= 5504
|2010= 5236
|2020= 5666
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 5,504 people, 2,504 households, and 1,449 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|2,480.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,748 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,238.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 92.66% White, 0.05% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.76%.<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 the 2,504 households 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 35.9% of households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% 65 or older.  The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median household income was $28,790 and the median family income  was $38,240. Males had a median income of $30,447 versus $20,867 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,252.  About 9.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
The Salida Downtown Historic District was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1984.<ref>{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref> On March 30, 2012, downtown Salida was named one of two inaugural Certified Creative Districts in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Salida Creative District Strategic Plan » Salida Creative District|url=http://salidacreates.com/salida-creative-district/|access-date=November 19, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> Salida is also home to the Shavano Chapter of the [[Columbine Poets of Colorado]], which is affiliated with the [[National Federation of State Poetry Societies]] (NFSPS). The group organizes workshops and festivals and offers poetry contests for both adults and students.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://coloradopoetscenter.org/eWords/issue4/columbinePoets.html|title=Who Are The Columbine Poets?|access-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref> On March 30, 2012, Colorado by [[Colorado Creative Industries]], a division of the State's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced that the City of Salida's historic downtown was selected as one of only two inaugural “Certified Creative Districts” in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Salida Creative District » Salida Creative District|url=http://salidacreates.com/salida-creative-district/|access-date=January 6, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
The city is served by Salida Public Schools. There are two public high schools, [[Salida High School]] and Horizons Exploratory Academy; and three middle schools, Salida Middle School, Salida Montessori Charter School, and the Crest Academy. [[Colorado Mountain College]] has a campus in Salida, which opened in 2019.

==Infrastructure==
===Health care===
Salida and surrounding Chaffee County are served by the [[Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center]], located on the north side of town on Rush Drive.

===Transportation===
Salida is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on both the Alamosa-Pueblo and the Crested Butte-Denver Outrider lines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mountain Valley Transport offers hourly service between Salida and Buena Vista during the day, as well as local door-to-door service.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mountainvalleytransit.com|title=Mountain Valley Transit|access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Sally Blane]], actress
*[[Louie Croft Boyd]], Superintendent of Nurses, Rio Grande Hospital 
*[[Laura Evans (sex worker)|Laura Evans]], [[sex worker|madam]]
*[[Chris Guccione (umpire)|Chris Guccione]], [[Major League Baseball]] umpire
*[[Kent Haruf]], novelist
*[[Ruth Hinshaw Spray]], peace activist

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
**[[Browns Canyon National Monument]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
**[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
**[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
**[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://cityofsalida.com/ City of Salida]

{{Chaffee County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Chaffee County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River]]