Eldora, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eldora, Colorado
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The Arcade Saloon in 1898 Eldora Colorado.
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Location of the Eldora CDP in Boulder County, Colorado
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 Eldora, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Boulder County |
| Government | |
| • Type | unincorporated community |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.827 km2 (4.180 sq mi) |
| • Land | 10.763 km2 (4.156 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.064 km2 (0.025 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,869 m (9,413 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 140 |
| • Density | 12.9/km2 (33.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
Nederland 80466
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| Area codes | 303 & 720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408069 |
Eldora (pronounced el-DOH-ruh) is a small, quiet community in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. It's not an official town but a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area that the government counts for population, but it doesn't have its own city government.
Eldora is sometimes called Happy Valley. In 2020, only 140 people lived here. The local post office is in nearby Nederland, Colorado.
This community is nestled in the Roosevelt National Forest. It's a beautiful mountain area with lots of trees. Eldora sits in a valley carved by glaciers long ago. It's also next to Middle Boulder Creek.
Long ago, Eldora was a place where people searched for gold. It was also a shipping point for silver from the Caribou silver mine. Today, you'll find small cabins and vacation homes here.
Eldora is known for its heavy snowfall, getting about 300 inches each winter!
Contents
What's in a Name?
Eldora was first called Happy Valley in the 1890s. This was after the discovery of the Happy Valley Placer Mine. The town was soon renamed El Dorado or Eldorado Camp.
However, there was a problem! The U.S. Postal Service often sent mail to other towns with the same name. This caused delays for important letters and paychecks. To fix this, the Post Service changed the name in 1898. They dropped the "do" from Eldorado, making it "Eldora." The local post office opened in 1897 and closed in 1977.
Eldora's Past
The Arapaho and Ute people first used this area for hunting in the summer. Eldora later became a mining town. People started looking for gold here in the 1850s. But it wasn't until 1875 that enough gold was found to open a mine.
The town was officially started in the 1880s. This helped open up more mining areas. It also aimed to create a route to Middle Park and Western Colorado.
Eldora grew quickly in the 1890s. At one point, about 1,300 to 1,500 people lived there. In 1898, Eldora had a bank, a post office, a school, and many shops. It was a supply center for other mining camps. It also served as a shipping point for nearby camps.
Eldora's mining boom was short. It reached its peak around 1900. A big wildfire in 1899 destroyed much of the timber. This made it hard to get wood for mining construction.
Today, some people are interested in mining in Eldora again. They hope to reopen the Mogul Tunnel Mine.
Where is Eldora?
Eldora is a small village in the southwestern part of Boulder County, Colorado. It is located inside the Roosevelt National Forest. The village sits at the base of the Ute Mountains. It's in the valley of the Middle Boulder Creek.
The closest town is Nederland, Colorado, about four miles east. To get to Eldora from Boulder, CO, you follow Colorado 119 through Boulder Canyon to Nederland. Then you head southwest into Eldora.
The Eldora area covers about 10.8 square kilometers (4.2 square miles). A small part of this is water.
What to See and Do
Eldora and its surroundings offer many natural attractions:
- Eldora Mountain Resort: A popular place for skiing and snowboarding.
- Indian Peaks Wilderness: A beautiful area for hiking and exploring nature.
- Roosevelt National Forest: The larger forest area where Eldora is located.
The Eldora Historic District is also important. It has been on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 1989. This means it's a special place with historical value.
The area is full of amazing wildlife. You might see mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, red foxes, mule deer, elk, and bobcats.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of the densely forested area of Eldora.
See also
In Spanish: Eldora (Colorado) para niños
