Naturita, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naturita, Colorado
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Town Hall on East Main Street
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Location in Montrose County, Colorado
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 Naturita, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Montrose |
| Incorporated (town) | November 30, 1951 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.615 sq mi (1.594 km2) |
| • Land | 0.615 sq mi (1.594 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,397 ft (1,645 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 485 |
| • Density | 788.6/sq mi (304.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81422
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-53120 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413035 |
Naturita is a small town located in Montrose 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 485 people lived there. This was a slight decrease from 546 residents in 2010.
The town's post office first opened on October 21, 1881, and was called "Chipeta." However, its name was changed to Naturita less than a year later, on September 15, 1882. The name "Naturita" comes from Spanish and means "little nature."
Contents
Where is Naturita Located?
Naturita is found in the southwest part of Montrose County. It sits in the beautiful valley of the San Miguel River. You can reach the town using Colorado State Highways 97 and 141.
How Far is Naturita from Other Towns?
If you want to visit Telluride, it's about 52 miles (84 km) southeast of Naturita. You can get there by taking Highways 141 and 145. Montrose, which is the main city of Montrose County, is about 86 miles (138 km) away by road. Even though it's only 41 miles (66 km) by air, the Uncompahgre Plateau makes the drive longer.
What is Naturita's Size?
The town of Naturita covers an area of about 0.6 square miles (1.55 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The San Miguel River flows northwest from Naturita. It eventually joins the Dolores River, which then flows into the Colorado River in Utah.
What is Naturita's Climate Like?
Naturita experiences a wide range of temperatures throughout the year.
Temperature Extremes in Naturita
In January, the coldest month, the average low temperature is around 16°F (-9°C). In July, the hottest month, the average high temperature can reach 96°F (36°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Naturita was -23°F (-31°C), and the hottest was a scorching 115°F (46°C).
Who Lives in Naturita?
Understanding the population of a town helps us learn about its people. This is called demographics.
How Has Naturita's Population Changed?
The number of people living in Naturita has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at the population from different census counts:
- 1960: 979 people
- 1970: 820 people
- 1980: 819 people
- 1990: 434 people
- 2000: 635 people
- 2010: 546 people
- 2020: 485 people
What About Households in Naturita?
In 2000, there were 635 people living in 257 households in Naturita. A household is a group of people living together in one home. About 35.4% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many households were married couples living together (44.7%). Some households (12.8%) had a female head with no husband present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of just one person.
The average household had about 2.46 people. For families, the average size was 3.06 people. The median age of people in Naturita was 36 years old. About 29.6% of the population was under 18 years old.
What Can You Do in Naturita?
Naturita and its surrounding areas offer some interesting spots.
Exploring Nearby Attractions
To the west of Naturita, along Highway 90, you'll find the community of Bedrock. Here, you can visit the historic Bedrock Store. This store is famous because parts of movies, like Thelma & Louise, were filmed there!
