Dinosaur, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dinosaur, Colorado
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| Town of Dinosaur | |
A street sign in Dinosaur
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Location of the Town of Dinosaur in Moffat County, Colorado.
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 Dinosaur, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Moffat County |
| Incorporated | 1947-12-09, as the Town of Artesia |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.930 sq mi (2.408 km2) |
| • Land | 0.930 sq mi (2.408 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,922 ft (1,805 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 243 |
| • Density | 261/sq mi (101/km2) |
| • Metro | 13,292 |
| • CSA | 38,121 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
81610 & 81633
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-20495 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0171542 |
The Town of Dinosaur is a Statutory Town located in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 243 at the 2020 United States Census. Dinosaur is a part of the Craig, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The town of Dinosaur was originally known as Baxter Springs, owned by Art and Fanny Baxter. It was renamed Artesia for its valued water supply when a town was platted to accommodate the oil boom in the 1940s. The current name was adopted in 1966, to capitalize on the town's proximity to Dinosaur National Monument. The Dinosaur National Monument headquarters is located just east of the town on U.S. Highway 40.
Geography
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1950 | 281 | — |
| 1960 | 318 | +13.2% |
| 1970 | 247 | −22.3% |
| 1980 | 313 | +26.7% |
| 1990 | 324 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 314 | −3.1% |
| 2001 | 313 | −0.3% |
| 2002 | 318 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 317 | −0.3% |
| 2004 | 320 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 315 | −1.6% |
| 2006 | 320 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 326 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 333 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 337 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 339 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 329 | −2.9% |
| 2012 | 321 | −2.4% |
| 2013 | 318 | −0.9% |
| 2014 | 312 | −1.9% |
| 2015 | 311 | −0.3% |
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Dinosaur is located at 40°14′30″N 109°0′31″W / 40.24167°N 109.00861°W (40.241560, -109.008747).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.77 square miles (2.0 km2), all of it land.
Many streets in the town are named after dinosaurs, including Cletisaurus Circle, Tyrannosaurus Trail, and Antrodemus Alley.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 281 | — | |
| 1960 | 318 | 13.2% | |
| 1970 | 247 | −22.3% | |
| 1980 | 313 | 26.7% | |
| 1990 | 324 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 314 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 339 | 8.0% | |
| 2020 | 243 | −28.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the census of 2000, there were 320 people, 124 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was 400.9 people per square mile (154.0/km2). There were 156 housing units at an average density of 196.1 per square mile (75.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.43% White, 0.31% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.
There were 124 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $43,500 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,904. About 18.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Historic places
Near Dinosaur are the following sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
- Castle Park Archeological District, a prehistoric residential site with inhabitation during 1500 - 1000 BC and again from AD 1000 - 1899 by the Prehistoric Fremont culture, Ute and Shoshone people
- Mantle's Cave, a prehistoric Fremont culture residential site from 499 BC - AD 1749
- Historic sites in the Dinosaur National Monument
- Denis Julien Inscription
- Rial Chew Ranch Complex
- Upper Wade and Curtis Cabin
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Rial Chew Ranch Complex cabin
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Rial Chew Ranch Complex garage
In popular culture
In the October 2009 issue of Dark Avengers by Marvel Comics, Dinosaur is the site of a portal that consumes Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers.
In addition, Dinosaur is also the hometown of the Marvel Comics villain, Molecule Man.
See also
In Spanish: Dinosaur (Colorado) para niños
