Craig, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Craig, Colorado
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Entering Craig from the south on South Ranney Street.
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Location of the City of Craig in Moffat County, Colorado
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 Craig, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Moffat County |
| Incorporated | July 15, 1908 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.073 sq mi (13.138 km2) |
| • Land | 5.073 sq mi (13.138 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,195 ft (1,888 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,060 |
| • Density | 1,786/sq mi (690/km2) |
| • Metro | 13,292 |
| • CSA | 38,121 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
81625 & 81626 (PO Box)
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-17760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410255 |
Craig is a city in Colorado, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Moffat County, Colorado. In 2020, about 9,060 people lived there. Craig is known as the main city in the Craig, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Craig
How Craig Was Founded
Craig was officially started as a city on July 15, 1908. It was founded by a man named William H. Tucker. The city got its name from Reverend William Bayard Craig, who helped pay for the town to be built.
Becoming a County Seat
In 1911, Moffat County was created from a part of Routt County. Craig then became the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. Before Craig, there were older settlements in the same area. These included towns called Yampa (around 1885) and Windsor (around 1878).
Early Businesses and Growth
Back in 1878, the area where Craig now stands had many ranches. There were also a few businesses. One was Himley's Ferry, which helped people cross the Yampa River. Another was Peck's Store, a small trading post. In the 1970s and early 1980s, a large power plant and several coal mines were built near Craig. This helped the city grow.
Geography and Climate
Where is Craig Located?
Craig is located in Colorado. In 2020, the city covered an area of about 13.138 square kilometers (about 5.07 square miles). All of this area is land.
What is Craig's Climate Like?
Craig has a type of climate called a humid continental climate. This means that summer days are usually hot, but the nights are cool. There's a big difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Winters in Craig are cold and snowy. Temperatures can drop close to zero degrees Fahrenheit.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Craig was 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This happened on July 9, 2021, July 10, 2021, and July 17, 2023. The coldest temperature ever recorded was a very chilly -51 degrees Fahrenheit (-46 degrees Celsius) on February 6, 1989.
People of Craig
Population Changes Over Time
Craig has grown quite a bit since it was first settled. Here's how the population has changed over the years:
- 1910: 392 people
- 1920: 1,297 people
- 1930: 1,418 people
- 1940: 2,123 people
- 1950: 3,080 people
- 1960: 3,984 people
- 1970: 4,205 people
- 1980: 8,133 people
- 1990: 8,091 people
- 2000: 9,189 people
- 2010: 9,464 people
- 2020: 9,060 people
Who Lives in Craig?
According to the 2000 census, there were 9,189 people living in Craig. Most people were White (about 92.56%). Other groups included African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander. About 10.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households in Craig had children under 18 living with them (about 38.3%). The average household had about 2.53 people. The average age of people in Craig was 34 years old.
Getting Around Craig
Roads and Highways
U.S. 40 is the main highway that runs east and west through Craig. Colorado State Highway 13 goes south from Craig to Interstate 70. It also goes north to the Wyoming border, where it becomes Wyoming State Highway 789. This highway eventually connects to Interstate 80.
Airports and Buses
The local airport for Craig is Craig-Moffat Airport. If you need to fly on a passenger jet, you can go to the Yampa Valley Airport. This airport is about 15 miles (24 km) east of Craig, near the town of Hayden.
There are also bus services available. Steamboat Springs Transit has buses that go between Craig and Steamboat Springs several times a day. The Bustang Outrider bus service also offers one daily trip from Craig to Denver and back.
Hunting in Craig
Craig is very famous for hunting. The local chamber of commerce calls it the "Elk Hunting Capital of the World." This means many people come to Craig to hunt elk.
Notable People from Craig
Craig has been home to some interesting people:
- Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970) was a politician. He was both a governor and a U.S. senator for Colorado.
- Chance Phelps (1984–2004) was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. He became well-known after a story called "Taking Chance" was written about his remains being escorted home from the Iraq War. This story was later made into an HBO movie.
- Dennis Preece (1940–1997) was a Hall of Fame wrestling coach. He went to high school in Craig, graduating in 1958.
- Angus Ellis Taylor (1911–1999) was a mathematician. He also served as the Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz.
See also
In Spanish: Craig (Colorado) para niños
