Empire, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Empire, Colorado
Statutory Town
Town of Empire
Empire as seen from Douglas Mountain
Nickname(s):  Heart of the Rocky Mountain Empire
Location of the Town of Empire in the Clear Creek County, Colorado.
Empire, Colorado Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Clear Creek County
Incorporated	April 12, 1882
Government
• Type	Statutory Town
Area
• Statutory Town	0.701 km2 (0.271 sq mi)
• Land	0.695 km2 (0.268 sq mi)
• Water	0.006 km2 (0.002 sq mi)
Elevation	2,614 m (8,577 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Statutory Town	345
• Density	497/km2 (1,286/sq mi)
• Metro	2,963,821 (19th)
• CSA	3,623,560 (17th)
• Front Range	5,055,344
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code	80438
Area code(s)	303 and 720
FIPS code	08-24620
GNIS feature ID	2412485
Highways	US 40

Empire, Colorado, is a small, historic town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. It's nestled in a beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains. This town was once a busy mining settlement during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late 1800s.

Today, Empire is home to about 345 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. It's considered part of the larger Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town sits along Clear Creek, west of Denver. U.S. Highway 40 runs right through Empire, making it a key stop on the way to Berthoud Pass and Middle Park.

History of Empire

Empire has a rich past, especially linked to mining. A post office was first set up here in 1861, and it was called "Empire City." Later, in 1886, the name was shortened to just "Empire."

The town got its name from New York, which is known as the "Empire State." Empire officially became an incorporated town in 1882. This means it gained its own local government and could make its own rules.

Geography and Climate

Empire is located in the northern part of Clear Creek County. It's surrounded by impressive natural features.

Mountain Peaks Near Empire

West of Empire, you can find a group of very tall mountains along the Continental Divide. This is a line of high points in the Rocky Mountains where rivers on one side flow to the Atlantic Ocean, and rivers on the other side flow to the Pacific Ocean. Some of these peaks include Mount Flora, Mount Eva, Parry Peak, James Peak, Colorado Mines Peak, and Mount Bancroft. Mount Bancroft was named after Frederick J. Bancroft, who was important for public health and historical work in Colorado.

Town Size and Weather

The town of Empire covers a small area, about 0.7 square kilometers (0.27 square miles). Most of this is land, with a tiny bit of water.

Empire has a climate that is mostly affected by winter. Winters are long and very cold, with short, clear days. There isn't a lot of rain, but there is usually plenty of snow. The air is also quite dry.

Population of Empire

Over the years, the number of people living in Empire has changed. In 2000, there were 355 people living in the town. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 345 people.

The town has a mix of different people living there. The average age in Empire in 2000 was 40 years old.

General store along U.S. Highway 40 in Empire, Colorado

Places to Visit

Empire has a few interesting spots that are worth checking out:

• Peck House: This is a historic hotel and restaurant. It's a great place to experience some of the town's past.
• Hard Rock Cafe: This cafe opened in 1934. It was named for the "hard rock miners" who were its first customers. It's important to know that this cafe is much older and completely separate from the famous chain of Hard Rock Cafe restaurants you might know today.

Empire in Stories

The town of Empire is also featured in books! It is the setting for a short story written by Bonnie Nadzam. The story is simply titled "Empire," just like the town itself.

See also

In Spanish: Empire (Colorado) para niños