Silver Plume, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Silver Plume, Colorado
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Train station in Silver Plume
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Location of Silver Plume in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  State of Colorado |
| County | Clear Creek County |
| Incorporated | September 24, 1880 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.68 km2 (0.26 sq mi) |
| • Land | 0.67 km2 (0.26 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.01 km2 (0.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,779 m (9,118 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 207 |
| • Density | 304.4/km2 (796/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
80476
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| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-70360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413287 |
Silver Plume is a small town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. It is known as a "Statutory Town," which is a type of local government in Colorado. Silver Plume was once a busy silver mining camp. It sits along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Together with the nearby town of Georgetown, Silver Plume is part of the Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District. This district also includes the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park, a famous railway between the two towns. In 2020, the town had a population of 207 people. The Silver Plume Post Office uses the ZIP code 80476.
Contents
Exploring the History of Silver Plume
The history of Silver Plume dates back to the 1860s. The family of John Henry Bowman arrived in the area in 1864. The town's post office first opened its doors on December 1, 1875. Silver Plume officially became a town on September 24, 1880.
How Silver Plume Got Its Name
For a short time, the town's name was spelled "Silverplume." However, it was later changed back to the original "Silver Plume."
Discovering Silver Plume's Past
You can learn a lot about the town's rich history. The George Rowe Museum is a great place to start. It is located in the town's original schoolhouse. Another way to explore is by walking the 7:30 Mine Trail. This trail offers amazing views of the Silver Plume valley and the town nestled below.
Population Changes in Silver Plume
The number of people living in Silver Plume has changed quite a bit over the years. Like many mining towns, its population grew and shrank as mining activity changed.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 908 | — | |
| 1900 | 775 | −14.6% | |
| 1910 | 460 | −40.6% | |
| 1920 | 272 | −40.9% | |
| 1930 | 126 | −53.7% | |
| 1940 | 139 | 10.3% | |
| 1950 | 136 | −2.2% | |
| 1960 | 86 | −36.8% | |
| 1970 | 164 | 90.7% | |
| 1980 | 140 | −14.6% | |
| 1990 | 134 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 203 | 51.5% | |
| 2010 | 170 | −16.3% | |
| 2020 | 207 | 21.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Understanding Silver Plume's Geography
Silver Plume is located in a valley carved by Clear Creek. Major roads like Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 6 pass right through the town. You can get to Silver Plume from Exit 226.
The town is about 20 miles west of Silverthorne, crossing the Continental Divide. It is also about 46 miles east of the city of Denver. The United States Census Bureau reports that Silver Plume covers a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.6 square kilometers), all of which is land.
Climate and Weather in Silver Plume
Silver Plume experiences a subarctic climate. This type of climate is known for its cold, snowy winters and mild summers.
| Climate data for Cabin Creek, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 56 (13) |
55 (13) |
65 (18) |
64 (18) |
75 (24) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
57 (14) |
85 (29) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48.4 (9.1) |
47.0 (8.3) |
53.1 (11.7) |
58.0 (14.4) |
66.9 (19.4) |
75.4 (24.1) |
77.0 (25.0) |
74.6 (23.7) |
71.9 (22.2) |
65.6 (18.7) |
54.6 (12.6) |
48.1 (8.9) |
77.7 (25.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.8 (−0.1) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
37.9 (3.3) |
42.8 (6.0) |
52.6 (11.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
67.1 (19.5) |
61.2 (16.2) |
49.8 (9.9) |
39.2 (4.0) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
48.3 (9.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
32.8 (0.4) |
41.9 (5.5) |
52.2 (11.2) |
57.4 (14.1) |
55.6 (13.1) |
49.4 (9.7) |
39.2 (4.0) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
37.5 (3.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.0 (−11.1) |
11.5 (−11.4) |
16.9 (−8.4) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
40.1 (4.5) |
45.5 (7.5) |
44.0 (6.7) |
37.6 (3.1) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
12.2 (−11.0) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −8.1 (−22.3) |
−8.5 (−22.5) |
−2.4 (−19.1) |
4.6 (−15.2) |
16.2 (−8.8) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
37.2 (2.9) |
35.8 (2.1) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
−2.7 (−19.3) |
−8.9 (−22.7) |
−13.6 (−25.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−28 (−33) |
−20 (−29) |
−14 (−26) |
2 (−17) |
18 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
24 (−4) |
9 (−13) |
−9 (−23) |
−21 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
−28 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.99 (25) |
1.23 (31) |
2.04 (52) |
2.79 (71) |
2.15 (55) |
1.55 (39) |
2.77 (70) |
2.63 (67) |
1.63 (41) |
1.40 (36) |
1.31 (33) |
1.16 (29) |
21.65 (549) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.9 (40) |
19.3 (49) |
24.9 (63) |
28.4 (72) |
11.9 (30) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
2.1 (5.3) |
10.4 (26) |
20.1 (51) |
20.3 (52) |
153.7 (389.31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.7 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 9.3 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 111.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.8 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 58.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Silver Plume para niños
