Ophir, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ophir, Colorado
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Ophir, Colorado, around 1900
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Location of Ophir in San Miguel County, Colorado.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | San Miguel |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.23 sq mi (0.61 km2) |
| • Land | 0.23 sq mi (0.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 9,725 ft (2,964 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 197 |
| • Density | 857/sq mi (323/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81426 (PO Box)
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-55870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413085 |
Ophir is a small town in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States. It is a "home rule municipality," which means it has its own local government.
Ophir is special because it's only two miles from the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant. This plant was the first in the world to use alternating current electricity for industrial purposes, like mining. In 2020, about 197 people lived in Ophir.
Contents
History of Ophir
The town of Ophir got its name from a place mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. A post office was opened here in 1878.
Geography of Ophir
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Ophir is a very small town. According to the United States Census Bureau, its total area is about 0.2 square miles (0.61 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
Population Changes in Ophir
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 130 | — | |
| 1890 | 113 | −13.1% | |
| 1900 | 127 | 12.4% | |
| 1910 | 124 | −2.4% | |
| 1940 | 2 | — | |
| 1950 | 2 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 6 | — | |
| 1980 | 38 | 533.3% | |
| 1990 | 69 | 81.6% | |
| 2000 | 113 | 63.8% | |
| 2010 | 159 | 40.7% | |
| 2020 | 197 | 23.9% | |
The population of Ophir has changed a lot over the years. In 1880, there were 130 people. The population dropped very low in the mid-1900s, with only 2 people in 1940 and 1950.
Since then, the town has grown steadily. By 2020, the population had reached 197 people.
Climate in Ophir
Ophir has a "Continental Subarctic Climate," also known as "Dfc" in the Köppen Climate Classification system. This means winters are long and very cold.
During winter, days are short and clear, and there isn't much rain or snow. Summers are usually mild.
| Climate data for Ophir, Colorado | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
71 (22) |
82 (28) |
96 (36) |
93 (34) |
92 (33) |
88 (31) |
78 (26) |
68 (20) |
65 (18) |
96 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34 (1) |
37 (3) |
41 (5) |
47 (8) |
57 (14) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
71 (22) |
64 (18) |
54 (12) |
42 (6) |
33 (1) |
51.8 (11.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
0 (−18) |
8 (−13) |
18 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
33 (1) |
39 (4) |
39 (4) |
31 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
9 (−13) |
−2 (−19) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −38 (−39) |
−38 (−39) |
−25 (−32) |
−18 (−28) |
0 (−18) |
10 (−12) |
20 (−7) |
0 (−18) |
5 (−15) |
−12 (−24) |
−23 (−31) |
−35 (−37) |
−38 (−39) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 1.77 (45) |
2.24 (57) |
2.38 (60) |
1.92 (49) |
1.73 (44) |
1.20 (30) |
2.59 (66) |
3.28 (83) |
3.23 (82) |
2.37 (60) |
1.82 (46) |
2.04 (52) |
26.57 (674) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
Places to Visit Near Ophir
- Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant: This is the historic power plant mentioned earlier.
- San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway: A beautiful road that offers amazing views of the mountains.
- Trout Lake: A scenic lake where you can enjoy nature.
See also
In Spanish: Ophir (Colorado) para niños
