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Hotchkiss, Colorado facts for kids

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Hotchkiss, Colorado
East Bridge Street in Hotchkiss, looking towards Mt. Lamborn
East Bridge Street in Hotchkiss, looking towards Mt. Lamborn
Motto(s): 
"Friendliest Town Around"
Location of Hotchkiss in Delta County, Colorado.
Location of Hotchkiss in Delta County, Colorado.
Country  United States
State  Colorado
County Delta
Incorporated (town) March 14, 1901
Government
 • Type Statutory Town
Area
 • Total 0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2)
 • Land 0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
5,332 ft (1,625 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 875
 • Density 941/sq mi (364.6/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
81419
Area code(s) 970
FIPS code 08-37545
GNIS feature ID 2412771

Hotchkiss is a small town in Delta County, Colorado, United States. It is known as a "statutory town," which means it follows specific rules set by the state. In 2020, the town had a population of 875 people.

A post office first opened in Hotchkiss in 1882. The town was named after Enos T. Hotchkiss, who was an important early settler in the area.

Exploring Hotchkiss Geography

Hotchkiss is located in the eastern part of Delta County. It sits on the north side of the North Fork Gunnison River. This river is an important natural feature of the area.

Roads and Travel

Colorado State Highway 92 runs right through the middle of Hotchkiss. It is known as Bridge Street in town.

  • If you travel west on Highway 92, you will reach Delta, which is about 20 miles away. Delta is the main city in Delta County.
  • Going southeast on Highway 92 for about 52 miles will take you to U.S. Route 50 near Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Another important road, Colorado State Highway 133, starts at the east end of Hotchkiss.

Size of the Town

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Hotchkiss covers a total area of about 2.4 square kilometers (or 0.93 square miles). All of this area is land, with no water within the town limits.

Hotchkiss Population and Schools

The number of people living in Hotchkiss has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at the population counts from different census years:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 261
1910 600 129.9%
1920 572 −4.7%
1930 541 −5.4%
1940 653 20.7%
1950 715 9.5%
1960 626 −12.4%
1970 507 −19.0%
1980 849 67.5%
1990 744 −12.4%
2000 968 30.1%
2010 944 −2.5%
2020 875 −7.3%

Local Schools and Education

In February 2021, the Delta County School District made a big decision about high schools in the area. They decided to close the separate high schools in Hotchkiss and Paonia, Colorado. Instead, they built a new, combined high school called North Fork High School. This new school is located in Hotchkiss.

This change happened because both schools had fewer and fewer students. This was partly due to coal mines in the area closing down. Even with the new high school, younger students will still have their schools. Kindergarten through 8th grade education will continue in both Hotchkiss and Paonia.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hotchkiss (Colorado) para niños

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