Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado
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Town Hall on Aspen Street
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Location of Hot Sulphur Springs in Grand County, Colorado.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  State of Colorado |
| County | Grand County Seat |
| Established | 1860 |
| Incorporated (town) | April 1, 1903 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2) |
| • Land | 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,697 ft (2,346 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 687 |
| • Density | 892/sq mi (345.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
80451 (PO Box)
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-37600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412770 |
Hot Sulphur Springs is a small but historic town in Colorado, United States. It is known for its natural hot springs. The town is also the county seat of Grand County. This means it's where the main government offices for the county are located.
Hot Sulphur Springs is found near Byers Canyon, between the towns of Granby and Kremmling. It's about 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Denver. In 2020, 687 people lived there. The town sits at a high elevation of about 7,697 feet (2,346 meters) above sea level.
Contents
History of Hot Sulphur Springs
Hot Sulphur Springs has a long and interesting history. It was first used as a winter camp by Native Americans. They came to the area to use the warm, natural hot springs for healing.
Early European American Settlement
In 1840, a man named William Newton Byers was the first European American to write about the springs. He later founded the Rocky Mountain News newspaper. The town itself was officially started in 1860. It was first called "Saratoga West" or "Warm Springs." This makes it the oldest town in Grand County.
In 1863, Byers bought the land where the town is located. This caused problems because the Ute tribe were the rightful owners of the land according to a treaty. The Utes tried to sue Byers, but they were not successful. Byers and some Colorado governors tried to force the Ute people out of the area. Byers wanted to create a famous spa and resort, calling it "the American Switzerland." He changed the town's name and planned its streets. Famous people like author Zane Grey visited the springs. The first building for pools was built around 1900.
County Seat and Growth
When Grand County was created, Hot Sulphur Springs was its first county seat from 1874 to 1882. Then, the county seat moved to Grand Lake. But it returned to Hot Sulphur Springs in 1888 and has been there ever since.
William Newton Byers passed away on March 25, 1903. The town was officially made a town (incorporated) on April 1, 1903. Byers' original family cabin is still standing at 204 Byers Avenue, which is now part of Highway 40.
Winter Carnival and Skiing
The first winter carnival in Hot Sulphur Springs was held on December 31, 1911. It was very popular! This led to a bigger three-day carnival in February 1912. The next winter, another carnival was planned along with the first Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Carnival. These events were very important. They helped create the Howelsen Hill Ski Area in Steamboat Springs and played a big part in starting Colorado's ski industry.
Byers had big plans for the town, but the railroad didn't arrive until 1928, after the Moffat Tunnel was built. Eventually, trains stopped coming to the town. However, Hot Sulphur Springs is still a popular resort that attracts many visitors. The first places for people to stay overnight opened in 1926.
Modern Times and Traditions
In 1997, the hot springs resort was greatly improved. A spiritual leader from the Ute tribe blessed the waters at the opening ceremony. Almost 1,000 people attended, and the Utes were welcomed to use the springs again.
Historically, the last day of the month was payday, and it was sometimes a dangerous day due to conflicts. Because Halloween is on October 31st, the town started celebrating Halloween on October 30th to keep children safe. This tradition continues today!
The Pioneer Village Museum, which shares the history of the area, is also located in Hot Sulphur Springs.
Geography and Climate
Hot Sulphur Springs is located in the middle of Grand County, right along the Colorado River. It's just east of where the river flows into Byers Canyon. U.S. Route 40 runs through the town, known as Byers Avenue. This highway goes 10 miles (16 km) east to Granby and 17 miles (27 km) west to Kremmling.
West of town, the Byers Canyon Shooting Range is part of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hot Sulphur Springs State Wildlife Area. This area is important for large wild animals like deer and elk to find food in winter. The town covers about 0.77 square miles (1.99 square kilometers) of land.
Climate
Hot Sulphur Springs has a cold climate, especially in winter. Winters are long and cold, with clear days and not much rain, mostly snow. Summers are warm and pleasant. This type of climate is called a continental subarctic climate.
| Climate data for Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39 (4) |
45 (7) |
53 (12) |
62 (17) |
71 (22) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
49 (9) |
42 (6) |
63 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14 (−10) |
19 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
35 (2) |
46 (8) |
57 (14) |
61 (16) |
60 (16) |
50 (10) |
37 (3) |
24 (−4) |
16 (−9) |
37 (3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.5 (13) |
0.5 (13) |
1.3 (33) |
1.8 (46) |
3.4 (86) |
2.9 (74) |
2.6 (66) |
2.1 (53) |
1.1 (28) |
0.9 (23) |
0.7 (18) |
0.4 (10) |
18.2 (460) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population
The population of Hot Sulphur Springs has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 100 | — | |
| 1910 | 182 | — | |
| 1920 | 123 | −32.4% | |
| 1930 | 142 | 15.4% | |
| 1940 | 235 | 65.5% | |
| 1950 | 263 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 237 | −9.9% | |
| 1970 | 220 | −7.2% | |
| 1980 | 405 | 84.1% | |
| 1990 | 347 | −14.3% | |
| 2000 | 521 | 50.1% | |
| 2010 | 663 | 27.3% | |
| 2020 | 687 | 3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The Hot Springs
The natural hot springs that give the town its name are just outside the town, on the west side of the Colorado River. The water in these springs is heated naturally by activity deep within the Earth.
Historically, the native Ute people used these springs for their healing properties. As more European settlers and American soldiers arrived, the Utes were pushed out of the area. However, the court system later recognized the Utes as the rightful owners of the springs. In recent years, a resort has been built at the hot springs. It has several pools and tubs where visitors can soak in the warm mineral water. The temperatures range from 98°F (37°C) to 112°F (44°C).
Water Profile
The hot mineral water comes out of the ground at a temperature of 125°F (52°C). About 200,000 gallons of water flow out each day. The water contains various minerals, including:
- Calcium (15 parts per million)
- Chloride (145 parts per million)
- Fluoride (11 parts per million)
- Lithium (1.3 parts per million)
- Magnesium (3.2 parts per million)
- Potassium (24 parts per million)
- Sodium (435 parts per million)
- Sulfate (145 parts per million)
It also has small amounts of other minerals like arsenic, iron, manganese, and zinc.
Images for kids
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Town Hall on Aspen Street
See also
In Spanish: Hot Sulphur Springs (Colorado) para niños
