La Jara, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Jara, Colorado
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The old La Jara railroad depot, now the town hall
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Location of La Jara in Conejos County, Colorado.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Conejos |
| Incorporated (town) | November 11, 1910 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.41 sq mi (1.06 km2) |
| • Land | 0.41 sq mi (1.06 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,605 ft (2,318 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 730 |
| • Density | 1,780/sq mi (689/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81140
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| Area code(s) | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-42055 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412855 |
La Jara is a small, official town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. It's known as a "statutory town," which means it follows specific rules set by the state of Colorado. In 2020, about 730 people lived there.
Where is La Jara?
La Jara is located in a beautiful area of Colorado called the San Luis Valley. A main road, U.S. Route 285, goes right through the town. If you head north on this road, you'll reach Alamosa in about 14 miles. If you go south, you'll get to the New Mexico border in about 20 miles.
The town itself is quite small. It covers an area of about 0.41 square miles (1.06 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
How Many People Live Here?
The number of people living in La Jara has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at its population history:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 208 | — | |
| 1910 | 448 | 115.4% | |
| 1920 | 521 | 16.3% | |
| 1930 | 602 | 15.5% | |
| 1940 | 897 | 49.0% | |
| 1950 | 912 | 1.7% | |
| 1960 | 724 | −20.6% | |
| 1970 | 768 | 6.1% | |
| 1980 | 858 | 11.7% | |
| 1990 | 725 | −15.5% | |
| 2000 | 877 | 21.0% | |
| 2010 | 818 | −6.7% | |
| 2020 | 730 | −10.8% | |
As you can see, the population grew a lot in the early 1900s. It reached its highest point in 1950 with 912 residents. Since then, the number of people living in La Jara has gone up and down, with 730 people recorded in the 2020 census.
Famous Faces from La Jara
Even though La Jara is a small town, some notable people have connections to it:
- Eppie Archuleta was a master weaver. She was recognized for her amazing weaving skills in 1985 with a special award called the National Heritage Fellowship.
- Morton Blackwell was born in La Jara in 1939. He became a well-known political activist who supported conservative ideas.
- Donald Valdez used to represent the area in the Colorado State House of Representatives.
