Wikipedia

Central City, Colorado

Central City is a home rule municipality located in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, Colorado, United States.[1] Central City is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Gilpin County.[7] The city population was 779, all in Gilpin County, at the 2020 United States census.[5] The city is a historic mining settlement founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and came to be known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth". Central City and the adjacent city of Black Hawk form the federally designated Central City/Black Hawk Historic District. The city is now a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.

Central City, Colorado
home rule city[1]
The Teller House in Central City
The Teller House in Central City
Nickname: 
The Richest Square Mile on Earth
Location of Central City in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, Colorado
Location of Central City in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, Colorado
Central City is located in the United States
Central City
Central City
Location of the City of Central, Colorado.
Central City is located in Colorado
Central City
Central City
Central City (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°00′00″N 102°00′00″W / 39.0000°N 102.0000°W / 39.0000; -102.0000 (Central City, Colorado)[3]
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
Counties[2]Gilpin
Clear Creek
Settled1859
IncorporatedJune 12, 1886[4]
Government
 • Typehome rule city[1]
Area
[5]
2.1599 sq mi (5.5940 km2)
 • Land2.1597 sq mi (5.5937 km2)
 • Water0.0001 sq mi (0.0003 km2)
Elevation
[3]
8,498 ft (2,590 m)
Population
 (2020)[5]
779
 • Density361/sq mi (139/km2)
 • Metro
2,963,821 (19th)
 • CSA
3,623,560 (17th)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code[6]
80427
Area codes303/720/983
GNIS pop ID181484
GNIS city ID2409427
FIPS code08-12900
Websitecentralcity.colorado.gov

History

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Central City, 1862
 
Central City Opera House, 1934

On May 6, 1859, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, John H. Gregory found a gold-bearing vein (the Gregory Lode) in Gregory Gulch between Black Hawk and Central City.[8] Within two months many other veins were discovered, including the Bates, Gunnell, Kansas, and Burroughs.[9]

The Mountain City, Kansas Territory, post office opened on January 17, 1860[10] The area uphill (west) from Mountain City was known as Central City. As many as 10,000 prospectors soon flocked to the town and surrounding prospects. On February 28, 1861, U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act creating the free Territory of Colorado.[11] On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territory created Gilpin County with Central City as the county seat.

The year 1863 brought the first attempt by hard rock miners to form a hard rock miners' union. Of 125 miners signing a union resolution in Mountain City, about fifty broke windows and doors at the Bob Tail mine, forcing other workers out. After a night of shooting and fighting, the union effort among Central City miners failed.[12]

On March 11, 1864, Mountain City, Colorado Territory, was officially incorporated, with John S. McCool serving as the first mayor.[8]

Many Chinese immigrants lived in Mountain City during the early days working the placer deposits of Gregory Gulch. They were forbidden to work in the underground mines. Most of them are believed to have returned to China after making their stake.

The frontier gambler Poker Alice lived for a time in Central City and several other Colorado mining communities.[13]

As the mining pits expanded, the Mountain City post office was moved uphill and reopened as the Central City, Colorado Territory, post office on October 8, 1869.[10]

On April 28, 1873, the city was visited by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and the first lady, who arrived with a group including Governor Elbert, ex-governor Edward M. McCook, Jerome B. Chaffee, Henry M. Teller, General Harney, and General Babcock. The party came to Black Hawk from Golden via train, then transferred to carriages for the transit to Central City. Upon arrival, the procession paraded through town, which was thronged with spectators, before stopping at the Teller House at 1 p.m. In preparation for their visit, the sidewalk leading to the entrance had been covered with silver bricks from the Caribou Mine, valued at about $13,000. President Grant was reportedly incredulous when he walked over the silver bricks to the entrance and learned that they were pure silver. After dinner and a reception, the party departed for Idaho Springs, the next stop on Grant's tour of Colorado.[14]

On May 22, 1874, a fire started in a Chinese laundry on Gregory street at 11 a.m. and spread quickly throughout the town. A request for help was sent to Golden and the Excelsior Fire Company took a special train to Central City to help fight the fire, arriving to cheers from the locals. Smoke billowing from the fire could be observed as far as Denver, which also sent a fire engine by train after receiving a dispatch to the mayor of Denver stating "The flames are still raging. Send assistance." By 3:30 p.m. the fire was under control, but not before destroying most of the city. The Teller House, Catholic church, Roworth's City Bakery, and several other structures survived the fire, while about 150 structures were destroyed. Many people lost their homes, businesses and belongings as a result, forcing the town to undertake a large effort to rebuild. Total losses from the fire were estimated to exceed half a million dollars.[8][15][16][17][18][19] To help prevent future fires, ordinances were passed to widen the city streets and build a water supply for fire prevention.[20]

Gold mining in the Central City district decreased rapidly between 1900 and 1920, as the veins were exhausted. Mining revived in the early 1930s in response to the increase in the price of gold from $20 to $35 per ounce, but then virtually shut down during World War II when gold mining was declared nonessential to the war effort. The district was enlivened in the 1950s by efforts to locate uranium deposits, but these proved unsuccessful.[9]

The City of Central was reincorporated on June 12, 1886.

The population of Central City and its sister city Black Hawk fell to a few hundred by the 1950s. Casino gambling was introduced in both towns in the early 1990s, but had more success in Black Hawk (which has 18 casinos) than in Central City (which has 6 casinos), partly because the main road to Central City passed through Black Hawk, tempting gamblers to stop in Black Hawk instead. In an effort to compete, Central City completed a four-lane, 8.4-mile (13.5 km) parkway from Interstate 70 to Central City, without going through Black Hawk.[21] The highway was completed in 2004, but Black Hawk, which prior to the introduction of gambling was much smaller than Central City, continues to generate more than seven times the gambling revenue that Central City does. To compete, Central City has recently eliminated height restrictions for building on undeveloped land. Buildings were previously limited to heights of 53 feet (16 m), so as not to overshadow the town's historic buildings.[22]

Tax from the gambling revenue provides funding for the State Historical Fund, administered by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.[23]

Geography

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Central City is located in southern Gilpin County. The city limits extend south along the Central City Parkway into Clear Creek County, as far as Interstate 70. The city is bordered by Black Hawk to the east and Idaho Springs to the south.

At the 2020 United States census, the city had a total area of 1,382 acres (5.5940 km2), including 0.07 acres (0.0003 km2) of water.[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860598—
18702,360294.6%
18802,62611.3%
18902,480−5.6%
19003,11425.6%
19101,782−42.8%
1920552−69.0%
19305723.6%
194070623.4%
1950371−47.5%
1960250−32.6%
1970228−8.8%
198032944.3%
19903351.8%
200051553.7%
201066328.7%
202077917.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 515 people, 261 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 273.0 inhabitants per square mile (105.4/km2). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 208.8 per square mile (80.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 2.52% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 261 households, out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.3% were non-families. 43.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,921, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $25,446 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,465. About 7.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

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C&S #71 made its last run up the canyon to Black Hawk on April 10, 1941.

Education

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Central City Public Schools are part of the Gilpin County School District RE-1. The district has one elementary school and one high school, Gilpin County Elementary School and Gilpin County Undivided High School.[25]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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The Black Hawk & Central City Tramway, operated by the cities of Black Hawk and Central City, provides a free shuttle between the two towns. Ramblin Express and Ace Express Coaches provides transportation from Denver.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  2. ^ "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Central City, Colorado". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  4. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "Gold Find in 1859 Starts Great Central City Boom". The Rocky Mountain News. 1932-07-10. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  9. ^ a b Paul K. Sims and others (1963) Economic Geology of the Central City District, Gilpin County, Colorado, US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 359, pp.7–8.
  10. ^ a b Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; Willard, John H. (1990). Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989. Golden, Colorado: Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation. ISBN 0-918654-42-4.
  11. ^ Thirty-sixth United States Congress (February 28, 1861). "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). p. 172. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Mark Wyman, Hard Rock Epic, Western Miners and the Industrial Revolution, 1860-1910, 1979, pages 151-152.
  13. ^ "Poker Alice – Famous Frontier Gambler". Legends of America. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  14. ^ "His Excellency the President of the United States". 1873-04-29. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  15. ^ "Central City Fire Disastrous in 1874". The Rocky Mountain News. 1935-06-29. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  16. ^ "FIRE!". The Colorado Miner. 1874-05-23. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  17. ^ "Central Four Weeks After the Fire". The Rocky Mountain News. 1874-06-21. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  18. ^ "Great Conflagration in Central City". The Rocky Mountain News. 1874-05-22. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  19. ^ "FIRE. Reported Destruction of Central City". Denver Daily Times. 1874-05-21. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  20. ^ "Rebuilding Central City". The Rocky Mountain News. 1874-07-29. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  21. ^ "Central City Parkway" (PDF). centralcityhighway.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2005. Retrieved August 15, 2005.
  22. ^ Andy Vuong, "Eased gambling, building rules give Central City a second chance", Denver Post, July 1, 2009, p.1.
  23. ^ State Historical Fund, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado Historical Society, USA.
  24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  25. ^ "Black Hawk Schools". GreatSchools, Inc. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  26. ^ "Bus Routes to Black Hawk, CO". Visit Black Hawk.
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Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Central City.
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