Calhan, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calhan, Colorado
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| Town of Calhan | |
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Location of the Town of Calhan in El Paso County, Colorado
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 Calhan, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | El Paso County |
| Incorporated | May 10, 1919 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.144 km2 (0.828 sq mi) |
| • Land | 2.144 km2 (0.828 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.000 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,991 m (6,532 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 762 |
| • Density | 356/km2 (921/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
80808
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| Area code(s) | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-11260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413149 |
| Major Highways |  |
Calhan, Colorado, is a small and friendly town located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It's known for being one of the highest towns in the U.S. that isn't in the mountains! In 2020, about 762 people lived here. Calhan is part of the larger Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. You can find the town right along U.S. Highway 24.
Contents
History of Calhan
Calhan was founded in 1888. It started as a water stop for trains on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The first train arrived on November 5, 1888. The town was named after Michael Calahan. He was the person in charge of laying the railroad tracks from the Colorado/Kansas border to Colorado Springs.
When the town's first U.S. Post Office opened, the name was accidentally shortened to "Calhan." The town officially became a "statutory town" in 1919. As Calhan grew, a special train station, the Calhan Rock Island Railroad Depot, was built in 1906 to help with the town's needs.
Calhan's War Hero: Jesse N. Funk
Jesse N. Funk was a rancher from Calhan. He joined the military before the United States entered World War I in 1917. Private Funk was sent to France to help the Allied forces.
During the Battle of Saint-Mihiel on October 31, 1918, Funk showed great bravery. He rescued two injured officers from a dangerous area called "no man's land" while under heavy machine gun fire. For his heroic actions, Jesse N. Funk received the Medal of Honor, one of the highest awards for bravery in the U.S. military.
Geography and Climate
Calhan is located in El Paso County, Colorado. The town has a total area of about 2.144 square kilometers (0.828 square miles), and all of it is land. Calhan sits at a high elevation of about 6,535 feet (1,992 meters) above sea level. This makes it one of the highest towns in the United States that is not in the mountains.
Calhan's Weather
Calhan has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it doesn't get a lot of rain, and the temperatures can be quite cold, especially in winter.
| Climate data for Calhan, Colorado | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) |
45 (7) |
52 (11) |
60 (16) |
69 (21) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
42 (6) |
62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15 (−9) |
18 (−8) |
25 (−4) |
32 (0) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
56 (13) |
55 (13) |
45 (7) |
34 (1) |
23 (−5) |
16 (−9) |
34 (1) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.23 (5.8) |
0.27 (6.9) |
0.77 (20) |
1.48 (38) |
2.20 (56) |
2.28 (58) |
2.61 (66) |
2.68 (68) |
0.97 (25) |
0.78 (20) |
0.42 (11) |
0.27 (6.9) |
14.96 (381.6) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
Population of Calhan
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 399 | — | |
| 1940 | 352 | −11.8% | |
| 1950 | 375 | 6.5% | |
| 1960 | 347 | −7.5% | |
| 1970 | 465 | 34.0% | |
| 1980 | 541 | 16.3% | |
| 1990 | 562 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 896 | 59.4% | |
| 2010 | 780 | −12.9% | |
| 2020 | 762 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 United States Census, the population of Calhan was 762 people. In 2000, there were 896 people living in the town. The population has changed over the years, as shown in the chart.
In 2000, about 29.7% of the people in Calhan were under 18 years old. About 14.5% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Calhan was 36 years old.
Notable People from Calhan
- Jesse N. Funk, a hero from World War I who received the Medal of Honor.
- Trista Vick-Majors, an Antarctic researcher.
Education in Calhan
Students in Calhan attend schools that are part of the Calhan School District RJ-1.
Fun Things to Do in Calhan
Calhan has several interesting places and events for visitors and residents:
- Calhan Rock Island Railroad Depot: A historic train station.
- Calhan Paint Mines Archeological District: A unique natural area with colorful rock formations.
- The El Paso County Fair: A big annual event with rides, animals, and shows.
- Calhan Summer Fest: A fun festival held just before the El Paso County Fair.
- The annual Homecoming Parade: A parade held in late September or early October.
- Annual Christmas Parade of Lights: A festive parade held in December.
- El Paso County Speedway: A place for exciting races.
Transportation in Calhan
U.S. Highway 24 is the main road that goes right through Calhan. This highway connects Calhan to other towns like Limon and Colorado Springs.
See also
In Spanish: Calhan (Colorado) para niños
