Parachute, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Parachute, Colorado
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Parachute in 2023
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| Motto(s):
"Western Gateway to the Rockies"
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Location of Parachute in Garfield County, Colorado.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Garfield County |
| Incorporated | 1908-04-01, as the Town of Grand Valley |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.87 sq mi (4.85 km2) |
| • Land | 1.81 sq mi (4.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,089 ft (1,551 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,390 |
| • Density | 743/sq mi (286.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
81635, 81636 (PO Box)
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-57400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413110 |
The Town of Parachute is a small town in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. It's a "home rule municipality," which means it has its own local government rules. In 2020, about 1,390 people lived in Parachute.
A very famous scientist, Willard Libby, was born in Parachute. He won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on carbon-14 dating.
Contents
Why is it Called Parachute?
The town of Parachute gets its name from Parachute Creek. This creek flows through the town and into the Colorado River. The Ute people, who lived here long ago, called the creek "Pahchouc." This word meant "twins."
Early settlers found it hard to say "Pahchouc." They started saying "Parachute" instead. In 1908, the town was officially called Grand Valley. But in the 1980s, it changed back to Parachute.
Where is Parachute Located?
Parachute is located on the northwest side of the Colorado River. This is where Parachute Creek joins the river. The main highway, Interstate 70, goes right through the town. You can get off at Exit 75 to enter Parachute.
If you drive east on I-70, you'll reach Glenwood Springs in about 42 miles. Glenwood Springs is the main city for Garfield County. If you drive southwest for about 44 miles, you'll get to Grand Junction. Across the Colorado River to the southeast is a community called Battlement Mesa.
The town covers a total area of about 1.87 square miles (4.85 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
What is the Climate Like?
Parachute has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are cold, and can be very cold. This type of weather is known as a humid continental climate. On climate maps, it's often labeled "Dfb."
| Climate data for Parachute | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3 (38) |
8 (46) |
13 (56) |
18 (64) |
24 (76) |
31 (88) |
34 (94) |
34 (93) |
28 (82) |
19 (66) |
11 (51) |
5 (41) |
19 (66) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12 (11) |
−7 (19) |
−2 (29) |
1 (33) |
6 (43) |
10 (50) |
14 (58) |
14 (57) |
9 (48) |
2 (35) |
−3 (27) |
−8 (18) |
2 (36) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 18 (0.7) |
18 (0.7) |
46 (1.8) |
43 (1.7) |
30 (1.2) |
25 (1) |
38 (1.5) |
23 (0.9) |
36 (1.4) |
51 (2) |
43 (1.7) |
30 (1.2) |
400 (15.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
How Many People Live Here?
The number of people living in Parachute has changed over the years. This information comes from the U.S. Decennial Census, which counts people every ten years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 268 | — | |
| 1920 | 228 | −14.9% | |
| 1930 | 209 | −8.3% | |
| 1940 | 230 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 296 | 28.7% | |
| 1960 | 245 | −17.2% | |
| 1970 | 270 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 338 | 25.2% | |
| 1990 | 658 | 94.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,006 | 52.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,085 | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,390 | 28.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Schools in Parachute
Parachute is part of the Garfield County School District 16. The town has schools for different age groups:
- Bea Underwood Elementary School (for younger students)
- Grand Valley Middle School (for middle schoolers)
- Grand Valley High School (for high schoolers)
Getting Around Parachute
For transportation, Parachute is part of a bus service called Bustang. This service connects Grand Junction to Denver, making it easier for people to travel between these cities.
Images for kids
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Parachute in 2023
In Spanish: Parachute (Colorado) para niños
