Central City, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Central City, Colorado
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The Teller House in Central City
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| Nickname(s):
The Richest Square Mile on Earth
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 Central City, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Gilpin County Clear Creek County |
| Settled | 1859 |
| Incorporated | June 12, 1886 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Home rule municipality | 5.5940 km2 (2.1599 sq mi) |
| • Land | 5.5937 km2 (2.1597 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.0003 km2 (0.0001 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,649 m (8,691 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Home rule municipality | 779 |
| • Density | 139/km2 (361/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,963,821 (19th) |
| • CSA | 3,623,560 (17th) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
80427 (PO Box)
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| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-12910 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409427 |
Central City is a town in Colorado, United States. It is located in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties. Central City is the main town (county seat) and the biggest town in Gilpin County. In 2020, about 779 people lived there.
Central City started as a gold mining town in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. It was even called the "Richest Square Mile on Earth" because of all the gold found there! Today, Central City and its neighbor, Black Hawk, are part of a special historic area. The town is also part of the larger Denver area.
Contents
History of Central City
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On May 6, 1859, a man named John H. Gregory found a vein of gold in a place called Gregory Gulch. This was between what are now Black Hawk and Central City. In just two months, many more gold veins were found.
By 1860, about 10,000 gold seekers came to the area, which was then known as Mountain City. However, most of them soon left. By 1900, the town had 3,114 people.
In 1863, some miners tried to form a union to improve their working conditions. This effort did not succeed at that time.
Many Chinese immigrants also lived in Central City in the early days. They worked in the gold deposits found in the rivers and streams. They were not allowed to work in the underground mines. Most of them likely went back to China after they had saved enough money.
A famous frontier gambler known as Poker Alice also lived in Central City for a while.
Gold Mining Slows Down
Gold mining in Central City became much less active between 1900 and 1920. This was because most of the gold veins were running out. Mining picked up again in the early 1930s when the price of gold went up. But it almost stopped completely during World War II. Gold mining was not seen as important for the war effort.
In the 1950s, people tried to find uranium in the area, but they were not successful.
The number of people living in Central City and Black Hawk dropped to just a few hundred by the 1950s.
Casinos and Modern Times
Casino gambling was allowed in both Central City and Black Hawk in the early 1990s. Black Hawk became more popular for gambling. This was partly because the main road to Central City went through Black Hawk. Gamblers often stopped there first.
To try and attract more visitors, Central City built a new four-lane road. This road, called the Central City Parkway, goes directly from Interstate 70 to Central City. It avoids going through Black Hawk. The new road was finished in 2004.
Even with the new road, Black Hawk still makes much more money from gambling than Central City. To compete, Central City has recently removed rules about how tall new buildings can be. Before, buildings could only be about 53 feet (16 meters) tall. This was to make sure they didn't look too big next to the old historic buildings.
Money from gambling taxes helps fund the State Historical Fund. This fund helps protect historic places in Colorado.
Geography of Central City
Central City is located in the southern part of Gilpin County. The town's borders stretch south into Clear Creek County, reaching as far as Interstate 70.
The town is next to Black Hawk on its east side. To the south, it borders Idaho Springs.
According to the 2020 census, Central City covers about 2.16 square miles (5.59 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny bit of this area is water.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 598 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,360 | 294.6% | |
| 1880 | 2,626 | 11.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,480 | −5.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,114 | 25.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,782 | −42.8% | |
| 1920 | 552 | −69.0% | |
| 1930 | 572 | 3.6% | |
| 1940 | 706 | 23.4% | |
| 1950 | 371 | −47.5% | |
| 1960 | 250 | −32.6% | |
| 1970 | 228 | −8.8% | |
| 1980 | 329 | 44.3% | |
| 1990 | 335 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 515 | 53.7% | |
| 2010 | 663 | 28.7% | |
| 2020 | 779 | 17.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 515 people living in Central City. Most residents were White (about 91.8%). A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds. About 9.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Central City in 2000 was 39 years old. About 16.5% of the population was under 18 years old.
Arts and Culture in Central City
Central City is known for its history and culture.
- The Central City Opera House is a famous building. It was designed by a Colorado architect named Robert Saur Roeschlaub. Today, it still hosts shows and performances during the summer.
- The Teller House is another historic building. It is famous for a painting called The Face on the Barroom Floor by Herndon Davis.
Education in Central City
The schools in Central City are part of the Gilpin County School District RE-1. The district has two schools:
- Gilpin County Elementary School
- Gilpin County Undivided High School
Getting Around Central City
Transportation Options
- The Black Hawk & Central City Tramway offers a free shuttle service. It helps people travel between Central City and Black Hawk.
- Companies like Ramblin Express and Ace Express Coaches provide bus transportation from Denver to Central City.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See also
In Spanish: Central City (Colorado) para niños
