Gold Hill, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gold Hill
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Gold Hill, Colorado.
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Location of the Gold Hill CDP in Boulder County, Colorado.
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 Gold Hill, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Boulder County |
| Founded | 1859 |
| Government | |
| • Type | unincorporated community |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.374 km2 (2.075 sq mi) |
| • Land | 5.374 km2 (2.075 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.000 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,577 m (8,455 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 218 |
| • Density | 40.57/km2 (105.06/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
Boulder 80302
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| Area codes | 303 & 720 |
| GNIS feature | 2408304 |
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Gold Hill Historic District
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| Location | Roughly bounded by North St., Pine St., Boulder St., Gold Run St., and College St. |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| MPS | Metal Mining and Tourist Era Resources of Boulder County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000979 |
| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1989 |
Gold Hill is a small, historic community in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized area, but it doesn't have its own city government.
Gold Hill is located northwest of Boulder, high up on a mountainside. It sits at an elevation of about 8,300 feet (2,530 meters). It started as a mining camp and was the site of the first big gold discovery during the 1859 Colorado Gold Rush. Even today, it's a quiet, isolated place with dirt roads. Many old wooden buildings, some restored, show its mining past. Gold Hill has a small museum and the Gold Hill School. This school, opened in 1873, is the oldest public school in Colorado that's still running! You can also find a General Store and a historic inn there.
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A Look at Gold Hill's Past
Gold Hill's story began on January 15, 1859. This was when gold was first found in a "lode" (a vein of ore in rock) in Colorado. At that time, this area was part of the Nebraska Territory. This discovery happened around the same time as other gold finds, but Gold Hill's was the first to be actively mined.
On March 7, 1859, the Gold Run area became the first mining district in the region. News of the gold spread fast. Many miners rushed to the area, making Gold Hill the first permanent mining camp in what is now Colorado. By autumn, a quartz stamp mill was built. This machine crushed rocks to get the gold out. It was the first of its kind in the region, brought all the way by ox cart! Miners also looked for gold in stream beds, a process called placer mining.
By 1861, much of the easily found gold was gone. Many prospectors left, and the town's population dropped. However, the town got a boost later that year. A new smelter was built nearby in Black Hawk. This allowed miners to process lower-quality ores, bringing some life back to Gold Hill.
The Tellurium Boom and Later Years
In 1872, a new mineral called tellurium was discovered in the area. This caused a second boom, and the population grew to almost 1,000 people. At its busiest, Gold Hill had its own newspaper and several hotels. One famous hotel was the Mines Hotel, built in 1872. It has since been restored and is a popular spot for tourists in the summer. A famous poet named Eugene Field even wrote about the Mines Hotel!
As mining slowed down in the early 1900s, Gold Hill's population decreased again. The town has survived two big fires, but many of its historic wooden buildings are still standing.
Even with fewer permanent residents, Gold Hill remained a popular place for visitors. Around 1926, two women named Florence Molloy and Mabel MacLeay opened the Double M Dude Ranch. This ranch offered a taste of the "open spaces of the West" with some comforts for visitors. It later became the Colorado Mountain Ranch, which is still open today.
In 1921, a group from Chicago bought the hotel that is now the Gold Hill Inn. They turned it into a summer camp for single women. These women were called "Bluebirds."
In September 2010, a large wildfire, called the Four Mile Canyon wildfire, affected the area. It sadly destroyed about 170 homes in and around Gold Hill.
Getting to Gold Hill
Gold Hill can be reached by several dirt roads. One way is Lick Skillet Road from nearby Left Hand Canyon Road. Other easier routes include Sunshine Canyon Road from Boulder, Gold Run Road from Salina, and Gold Hill Road from the Peak to Peak Highway (State Highway 72).
During winter, these roads can get a lot of snow. Sometimes, only vehicles with special chains or four-wheel drive can get through.
Is Gold Hill a Ghost Town?
Sometimes, people mistakenly call Gold Hill a ghost town. However, this isn't true! While Gold Hill is part of Boulder County and doesn't have its own city government, it's an active community. It has regular town meetings with elected officials, showing that people live there and are involved in their community.
Geography of Gold Hill
The Gold Hill CDP covers an area of about 5.374 square kilometers (about 2.075 square miles). All of this area is land.
Population Information
The United States Census Bureau first officially recognized Gold Hill as a CDP for the United States Census 2000. Here's how its population has changed over the years:
| Gold Hill CDP, Colorado | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2000 | 210 | — |
| 2010 | 230 | +9.5% |
| 2020 | 218 | −5.2% |
| Source: United States Census Bureau | ||
See also
In Spanish: Gold Hill (Colorado) para niños
