Hygiene, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hygiene, Colorado
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St. Vrain Church of the Brethren in Hygiene
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 Hygiene, Colorado
Location in Colorado
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Counties | Boulder |
| Elevation | 5,089 ft (1,551 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
80533
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| GNIS feature ID | 178333 |
Hygiene is a small community in Boulder County, Colorado. It has its own Post Office. The community was first called Pella. Its current name, Hygiene, comes from a special health center that once treated people with tuberculosis. The historic St. Vrain Church of the Brethren is also located here.
History of Hygiene
The first religious services in the Hygiene area happened in 1874. Jacob S. Flory, a minister from the Church of the Brethren, moved to the Pella area in 1873. He started the St. Vrain congregation in 1877. This group built the St. Vrain Church of the Brethren in 1880. It was the very first meetinghouse for their church in Colorado.
The Hygiene Home Sanatorium
In 1881, Jacob Flory opened a health center called the Hygiene Home. This center was a sanitarium for people with tuberculosis. The large, three-story building had 35 rooms. Patients came hoping the area's "clean mountain air" and "year-round sunshine" would help them get better. About one-third of Colorado's population in 1900 were people seeking tuberculosis treatment. The community of Hygiene got its name from this important health center.
The Hygiene House closed after eight years. It was later torn down in 1926. The St. Vrain Church building was given to the Hygiene Community Cemetery Association in 2005. This group uses the church and cemetery for community events. In 2010, work began to fix up the church building.
Other Community Buildings
Today, Hygiene has a Post Office (ZIP code 80533), a United Methodist church, a school (Hygiene Elementary), and a cemetery. A Methodist church group started in Hygiene by 1903. They began building their church the next year. It cost $4,000 to build.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made in 1875. They were given to the Hygiene church in 1905 from a church in Longmont. In 2016, money was given to help preserve and restore these old stained glass windows.
Community Life
The Hygiene Community Association was formed in 2011. This group helps keep historical information about the community. They also promote local events. "Hygiene Hay Days" is a fun autumn festival. Local business owners started it in 2012. The community association now organizes this event every year.
The BNSF Railway has train tracks on the south side of Hygiene. These tracks connect Longmont to the Cemex cement plant in Lyons.
