Berthoud, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berthoud, Colorado
Statutory town
Entering Berthoud from the east (2012)
Nickname(s):  The Garden Spot of Colorado
Location within Larimer and Weld counties of Colorado.
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Counties	Larimer, Weld
Incorporated	August 28, 1888
Named for	Edward L. Berthoud
Government
• Type	Statutory Town
Area
• Total	13.067 sq mi (33.844 km2)
• Land	12.933 sq mi (33.497 km2)
• Water	0.134 sq mi (0.347 km2)
Elevation	5,030 ft (1,533 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,332
• Density	799/sq mi (308/km2)
• Front Range	5,055,344
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP Code	80513
Area code(s)	970
FIPS code	08-06255
GNIS feature ID	178065

Berthoud is a town in Colorado, United States. It is located in both Larimer and Weld counties. In 2020, about 10,332 people lived there. Most of them lived in Larimer County.

Berthoud is found north of the Little Thompson River. It is about 21 miles (34 km) south of Fort Collins and 43 miles (69 km) north of Denver. It's part of the Front Range Urban Corridor, which is a busy area along the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

History of Berthoud

Early Settlers and the Railroad

People first started settling in the Berthoud area in the early 1860s. This was after the Colorado Gold Rush. Many settlers tried to claim land for farming, but the dry land was tough. Only the strongest farmers and ranchers stayed.

In 1872, a rancher named Lewis Cross claimed land where the Colorado Central Railroad planned to cross the Little Thompson creek. When the train tracks were built in 1877, a train station and water tank were put there. This small settlement was first called Little Thompson. It was later renamed Berthoud to honor Edward L. Berthoud. He was the person who surveyed the train route through the valley. The Berthoud post office opened on April 4, 1878.

Over the next few years, the town grew. It had a few homes, a blacksmith shop, a store, a small grain elevator, and a log cabin that was used as both a school and a church.

Moving the Town

In the early 1880s, the railroad realized that the trains had a hard time climbing out of the valley from Berthoud's original spot. So, in the winter of 1883–84, several buildings were put on wheels. Teams of animals pulled them to the town's current location. This new spot was about one mile (1.6 km) north of the river, on higher ground.

Growth Through Farming

Farming became very successful in the Berthoud area. Farmers used water from the Little and Big Thompson Rivers. They built a system of reservoirs and ditches to water the dry land. They grew crops like alfalfa, sugar beets, wheat, corn, and barley. These crops were sold or used to feed sheep and cattle. The town grew as more shops and businesses opened to serve the farmers and ranchers.

In 1886, the town got bigger with the Welch Addition. This extended the town south for the first time. A year later, a fire company was quickly formed after a big store burned down. The Town of Berthoud officially became a town on August 28, 1888. A town board was elected, and they hired a marshal to keep the peace and light the street lamps. By the early 1900s, Berthoud had a busy downtown area.

Highways and Sugar Beets

In the 1920s, Mountain Avenue became part of a paved state highway system. This road later became U.S. Highway 287. It connected larger towns in northern Colorado. In 2007, Highway 287 was moved to go around Berthoud, bypassing the downtown area.

In October 1941, Berthoud began its sugar beet harvest. Beets grown around Berthoud were sent to factories in nearby Loveland and Longmont to be processed into sugar. This industry was very important for the town.

Modern Changes

On June 25, 2019, Berthoud made a unique decision. It became the only town in Colorado to ban the sale of dogs from puppy mills. This means pet stores in Berthoud cannot sell puppies from large-scale breeding facilities.

Geography and Climate

Town Area

In 2020, the town of Berthoud covered a total area of about 33.844 square kilometers (13.067 square miles). A small part of this area, about 0.347 square kilometers (0.134 square miles), is water.

Weather in Berthoud

Berthoud has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it has mild winters and hot, dry summers. It doesn't get a lot of rain, but it does receive about 16 inches (40 cm) of rain each year.

In winter, average temperatures are usually between the mid-30s and upper 40s Fahrenheit (around 2-9°C). Sometimes, temperatures can drop to the teens or single digits Fahrenheit (below -7°C). In summer, temperatures often go above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°C), with an average high in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 29°C). Berthoud gets about 229 sunny days each year and averages 39 inches (99 cm) of snow annually.

Population Information

2020 Census Details

According to the 2020 census, Berthoud had 10,332 people living there. The town had about 799 people per square mile.

Most of the people (90.9%) were White. About 12.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

About 22.3% of the people were under 18 years old, and 7.0% were under 5. People over 65 made up 13.8% of the population. The population was almost evenly split between females (50.8%) and males (49.2%).

The average household income was $95,872. Only a small number of people (2.9%) lived below the poverty line.

Fun Things to Do

Berthoud is known as the "Garden Spot of Colorado" because it is surrounded by farmland.

Annual Events

The town hosts several fun events throughout the year:

• Berthoud Day
• Oktoberfest
• Arbor Day Celebration
• Berthoud Sunfest (with a quilt show and art market)
• Berthoud Open Golf Tournament
• Berthoud Snowfest (with a sculpting competition)

Museums to Visit

You can learn about Berthoud's history at these museums:

• The Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum. It includes the Bimson Blacksmith Shop, which is a historic landmark.
• The McCarty-Fickel Home. This museum shows what a medical office looked like in the 1930s.

Parks and Recreation

Berthoud has many parks for outdoor activities. These include:

• A skate park
• Baseball fields
• Soccer fields
• Outdoor basketball courts
• Sand volleyball courts
• Pickleball courts

In 2023, the town approved building a new bike and scooter park. The Berthoud Recreation Center also has an aquatic center, which is a great place to swim.

Education in Berthoud

Students in Berthoud go to public schools that are part of the Thompson School District. There are two elementary schools: Berthoud Elementary and Ivy Stockwell. Students then go to Turner Middle School and later to Berthoud High School.

Town Services

Police Department

The Town of Berthoud works with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office for police services. The Sheriff's Office provides officers to patrol the town. They also have two deputies who work as school resource officers.

Transportation

Berthoud has a local transportation system called Berthoud Area Transportation Service (BATS). It offers door-to-door rides within Berthoud. It also provides trips to nearby towns like Loveland and Longmont. BATS is open to everyone.

There is also a regional bus route called FLEX. This bus connects Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont, and Boulder.

Famous People from Berthoud

• Clint Barmes - A former professional baseball player.
• Tyler Carron - An American ice sled hockey player.
• Nikko Landeros - An American ice sled hockey player and skier.
• Eric Conn - An American biochemist.
• Rennie Davis - An American anti-war activist.

See also

In Spanish: Berthoud (Colorado) para niños