Stonewall Gap, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stonewall Gap, Colorado
|
|
|---|---|
Stonewall Gap and Colorado State Highway 12.
|
|
Location of the Stonewall Gap CDP in Las Animas County, Colorado.
|
|
 Stonewall Gap, Colorado
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Las Animas County |
| Government | |
| • Type | unincorporated community |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.920 sq mi (4.974 km2) |
| • Land | 1.920 sq mi (4.974 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,976 ft (2,431 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 66 |
| • Density | 34.37/sq mi (13.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
Weston 81091
|
| Area code(s) | 719 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2583300 |
Stonewall Gap is a small community in Las Animas County, Colorado, United States. It is also known simply as Stonewall. This area is called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. In 2020, 66 people lived here. The local post office that serves Stonewall Gap is in Weston, Colorado.
Contents
Where is Stonewall Gap?
Stonewall Gap is located along Colorado State Highway 12. It sits in a natural opening formed by the Middle Fork of the Purgatoire River. This opening cuts through the Stonewall Ridge, which is about 8,400 feet (2,560 meters) high.
- Highway 12 goes east from Stonewall Gap. It follows the Purgatoire River valley for about 33 miles (53 km) to Trinidad, Colorado. Trinidad is the main town in Las Animas County.
- The highway also goes north over Cucharas Pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This route is about 32 miles (51 km) long and leads to La Veta, Colorado.
The Stonewall Gap CDP covers an area of about 1.92 square miles (4.974 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
A Look Back: Stonewall's History
The land around Stonewall was once part of a huge area called the Maxwell Land Grant. This grant was given by the government of New Mexico in 1841. It covered over 1.7 million acres (6,900 square kilometers).
The Maxwell Land Grant Dispute
Later, foreign investors bought the Maxwell Land Grant. They formed a company called the Maxwell Land Grant Company. This company tried to remove the farmers, ranchers, and miners who had already settled on the land. These settlers included both Anglo (English-speaking) and Hispanic people.
The "Stonewall incident" in 1888 was a very important event in this land dispute. It was one of the most serious conflicts between the company and the settlers.
- The company had sold about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of land in Colorado to a group of investors. One of these investors was Alva Adams, who was the governor of Colorado.
- These investors wanted to develop the land for tourism. They tried to make the settlers leave right away.
- Many settlers, especially Hispanic families, gathered to protest. They surrounded a hotel in Stonewall where the company's workers were staying.
- A clash happened, and three of the protesters were killed.
- Afterward, some protesters were arrested. They were later found guilty of causing a riot.
Court Decisions and Outcomes
The Supreme Court of the United States eventually decided that the foreign investors owned the land. By 1899, most of the original settlers had either been forced to leave or had made agreements with the company.
Population of Stonewall Gap
The United States Census Bureau first defined Stonewall Gap as a CDP for the United States Census 2010.
- In 2010, the population was 67 people.
- In 2020, the population was 66 people.
