Cañon City, Colorado

The City of Cañon City (/ˈkænjən/) is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Fremont County, Colorado, United States.[8] Cañon City is the principal city of the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area and is a part of the Front Range Urban Corridor. The city population was 16,400 at the 2010 United States Census.[9] Cañon City straddles the easterly flowing Arkansas River and is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing. The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths.[10] In 1994, the United States Board on Geographic Names approved adding the tilde to the official name of Cañon City, a change from Canon City as the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975.[11] It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the Spanish Ñ in its name, others being La Cañada Flintridge, California; Española, New Mexico; Peñasco, New Mexico; and Cañones, New Mexico.

Located in Cañon City's National Historic District, the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. It is currently unoccupied and in disrepair after a string of failed attempts to revive the business. The hotel was moved, brick by brick, from Silver Cliff, Colorado, in 1888.
Royal Gorge Bridge in 1987
Arkansas Riverwalk in Cañon City is part of John Griffin Regional Park. It is owned and operated by the Cañon City Area Metropolitan Recreation and Park District.
For other similar names, see Canyon City (disambiguation).
Cañon City, Colorado
Home Rule Municipality[1]
City of Cañon City[1]
Downtown Cañon City, 2010
Nicknames: 
Climate Capital of Colorado
Motto(s): 
Gateway to the Authentic West
Location of the City of Cañon City in Fremont County, Colorado.
Cañon City
Location of the City of Cañon City in the United States.
Coordinates: 38°26′31″N 105°13′15″W[2]
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyFremont County[3]
CityCañon City[1]
Settled1860
IncorporatedApril 3, 1872[4]
Government
 • TypeHome Rule Municipality[1]
 • MayorAshley Smith
Area
 • Total12.40 sq mi (32.12 km2)
 • Land12.39 sq mi (32.09 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)  0.09%
Elevation
5,332 ft (1,625 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total16,400
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
16,725
 • Density1,349.88/sq mi (521.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes[7]
81212, 81215 (PO Box)
Area code(s)719
FIPS code08-11810
Major Routes
Websitewww.canoncity.org

History

Cañon City was laid out on January 17, 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for mining in South Park and the upper Arkansas River.[12]

1860s to 1900
Bird's eye view of dwellings, commercial and civic buildings between the Arkansas River and mountains in This drawing of Canon City, Colorado, 1882.

In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the Second Colorado Infantry during the American Civil War. This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearby New Mexico and as far east as the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Missouri before ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for petroleum 6 miles (10 km) north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of 50 feet (15 m), and he completed the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi River. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refined kerosene and fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products in Denver.[13]

A number of metal ore smelters were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at Cripple Creek in 1891.

Historical designations

The Cañon City Downtown Historic District is an historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[14]

Geography

Cañon City is located in eastern Fremont County at 38°26′48″N 105°13′42″W (38.446800, -105.228305)[15] at an altitude of 5,332 feet (1,625 m). It sits primarily on the north side of the Arkansas River, just east of where the river exits from Royal Gorge. It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of Lincoln Park. Via U.S. Route 50, Pueblo is 39 miles (63 km) to the east and Poncha Springs is 62 miles (100 km) to the west. Colorado Springs is 45 miles (72 km) to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.4 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.09%, is water.[9] Cañon City sits in the "high desert" land of southern Colorado, the same desert lands of Pueblo and Florence.

Climate Capital of Colorado

The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and 5,300-foot (1,600 m) elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is 14 °F (7.8 °C) warmer in Cañon City than in Grand Junction, even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.[16]

The average minimum temperature in January is 20 °F (−7 °C). During July, overnight lows are 59 °F (15 °C) on average. Cañon City has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Climate data for Cañon City, Colorado
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 76
(24)		 77
(25)		 82
(28)		 88
(31)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 107
(42)		 100
(38)		 100
(38)		 91
(33)		 83
(28)		 76
(24)		 107
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 49
(9)		 52
(11)		 58
(14)		 65
(18)		 73
(23)		 84
(29)		 90
(32)		 87
(31)		 79
(26)		 69
(21)		 56
(13)		 49
(9)		 68
(20)
Average low °F (°C) 20
(−7)		 23
(−5)		 28
(−2)		 35
(2)		 44
(7)		 53
(12)		 59
(15)		 58
(14)		 48
(9)		 38
(3)		 28
(−2)		 21
(−6)		 38
(3)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31)		 −16
(−27)		 −8
(−22)		 7
(−14)		 15
(−9)		 20
(−7)		 41
(5)		 37
(3)		 25
(−4)		 12
(−11)		 −24
(−31)		 −25
(−32)		 −25
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.46
(12)		 0.38
(9.7)		 1.06
(27)		 1.47
(37)		 1.64
(42)		 1.24
(31)		 1.78
(45)		 2.05
(52)		 1.21
(31)		 0.72
(18)		 0.80
(20)		 0.49
(12)		 13.30
(338)
Source: Weather.com[17]

Neighborhoods

As Cañon City has grown, the city has both annexed surrounding communities and developed new subdivisions to create the city that exists today.

  • Dawson Ranch
  • Eagle Heights
  • Fireman's Bluff
  • Four Mile Ranch
  • Gold Cañon
  • Meadowbrook
  • Orchard Park
  • South Cañon, a historic neighborhood located on the west side south of the Arkansas River
  • Sunrise Mesa
  • Western Meadows
  • Wolf Park
  • Five Star Mobile Home park

Parks and recreation

Cañon City is home to many city-owned parks, as well as parks owned by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District.

City-owned parks
  • Centennial Park, commonly known as "Duck Park"
  • Denver & Rio Grande Western Park, commonly known as "Depot Park"
  • Greydene Park
  • Magdalene Park
  • Margaret Park (originally Margarette Park)
  • Mountain View Park, home of the city's skate park
  • Red Canyon Park, a 500-acre (200 ha) park located 10 miles (16 km) north of the city
  • Royal Gorge Park, home of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
  • Rudd Park
  • Temple Canyon Park
  • Veterans Park, known for Entertainment in the Park concerts during the summer

Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District

The Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, commonly called the Rec District, was created in 1965[18] to better serve the community's recreational needs with parks, the R.C. Icabone Pool (a public swimming pool), a dog park, an archery range and a ropes course along with a rec district office with a community room.

The following parks are operated and owned by the Rec District:

  • John Griffin Park, located near the Sell's Avenue Trailhead of the Riverwalk
  • Harrison Park, the former playground of the former Harrison Elementary School which had been relocated to a newer, larger school building housing both elementary and middle school students
  • Pathfinder Regional Park, a joint-managed park located in the county between Cañon City and Florence
  • Rouse Park

In addition, the city maintains the Tunnel Drive Trail, a four-mile long out-and-back trail that follows the course of an old irrigation canal. The trailhead is located at the west end of Tunnel Drive, just inside the city limits.

The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in the name of Guy U. Hardy to recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in the Royal Gorge area.[19]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870229—
18801,501555.5%
18902,82588.2%
19003,77533.6%
19105,16236.7%
19204,551−11.8%
19305,93830.5%
19406,69012.7%
19506,345−5.2%
19608,97341.4%
19709,2062.6%
198013,03741.6%
199012,687−2.7%
200015,43121.6%
201016,4006.3%
2019 (est.)16,725[6]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

As of the census[21] of 2000, there were 15,431 people, 6,164 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,284.1 people per square mile (495.7/km2). There were 6,617 housing units at an average density of 550.6 per square mile (212.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.15% White, 1.59% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.33% of the population.

There were 6,164 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,736, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,258 versus $21,849 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 7.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Law

Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and a municipal court, Cañon City is home to the courts for Fremont County and the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".[22]

Government

Cañon City is governed via the Council–manager government system. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. The mayor is elected by the entire city.

Economy

The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching and farming, but Cañon City has slowly transitioned from an agricultural community to more of a diverse economy including not only agriculture, but tourism, education, manufacturing, medicine and many other sectors.

Major employers

Cañon City depends on its tourism industry which includes the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Red Canyon Park, The Abbey winery, and various other attractions. The major employers in Cañon City include the quaint downtown shops, the entrepreneurial TechSTART initiative that attracts major technology-based entrepreneurs, Colorado Department of Corrections and Centura Health (owner of St. Thomas More Hospital and the Progressive Care Center).

Prisons

Colorado Department of Corrections operates the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City.[23] In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in unincorporated areas in Fremont County, Colorado State Penitentiary, the location of the state death row and execution chamber[24] is in Fremont County.[25] Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,[26] Centennial Correctional Facility,[27] Fremont Correctional Facility,[28] Four Mile Correctional Center,[29] and Skyline Correctional Center.[30]

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.[31]

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County, was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.[32][33]

Prisons have served an important significance to both Cañon City and the surrounding areas of Fremont County, as well as to the state of Colorado. The Museum of Colorado Prisons has been given the role of preserving and presenting the past of the state's corrections system.

Tourism

From Cañon City's Downtown Historic District located in the heart of the city to the Royal Gorge Bridge, there are many places to see and visit in the area.

Media

Cañon City is home to a daily newspaper, called the Cañon City Daily Record; an FM radio station, Star Country 104.5 FM; and a long-running AM radio station, known as KRLN NewsRadio 1400 AM.

Transportation

Transportation in the Cañon City area consists of cab service, shuttle bus service, and a downtown wagon ride. The Royal Gorge Bridge trolley had also been used during special events (it was destroyed in the Royal Gorge Fire, but it was reserved for use by the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Jeep tours and Segway tours are also available to explore local parks such as Red Canyon Park or scenic places such as Skyline Drive.

The town is served by the Fremont County airport (1V6) which is 6 miles to the East and currently has no scheduled passenger service.[34] Within an hour's drive is the Colorado Springs airport with daily service by major airlines.

Major roads and highways

The area is served by one state and one U.S. highway with a mix of city and county roads to navigate the city or connect to neighboring areas.

State and national highways

City and county roads
  • 4th Street - connecting Downtown with South Cañon, Oak Creek Grade, Prospect Heights, and Capitol Hill
  • 5th Street - serves as a north-south connector from Downtown north, allows traffic from Skyline Drive to return to U.S. 50
  • 9th Street - serves as a carrier of CO 115 from the roundabout to the junction with U.S. 50, heads north and ends at Washington Street
  • 15th Street - main route north to the hospital, a fire station and a small cluster of businesses
  • Orchard Avenue
  • Raynolds Avenue/Ash Street - runs from center of East Cañon to CO 115 via a county road, changes to a gravel road and becomes Chandler Road
  • MacKenzie / Four Mile Lane - routed to connect from CO 115 as a carrier of CR 20 until the city limits, at Hwy 50, heads north as Four Mile Lane

Bus service
  • Cañon City is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.[35]

Scenic routes
  • Skyline Drive, major scenic route overlooking Cañon City that was originally built by local inmates at the Territorial Prison

Railroads

Education
See also Cañon City School District

Cañon City's school system is under the direction of the Cañon City School District Fremont RE-1.[36] The district currently has four elementary schools, one charter school, one school serving as both an elementary school and middle school, one middle school and one high school, Cañon City High School. For the higher education needs of the community, Pueblo Community College provides a branch campus on the west end of the city along U.S. Highway 50.

Places of interest

Former places of interest

Notable people

The movie Canon City (1948) depicts the real-life 1947 escape of 12 prisoners from nearby Colorado State Penitentiary.[37]

A diner in Cañon City is the setting of the song Navajo Rug, named by the Western Writers of America as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.[38]

A fictional version of the city is depicted in Philip K. Dick's alternate history novel The Man in the High Castle (1963) and its eponymous 2015 television series adaptation. Cañon City is located in an ostensibly demilitarized "neutral zone" situated between the puppet regimes of the Japanese Pacific States, in the west, and Greater Nazi Reich, in the east, in the former United States.[39]

The season 12 premiere of the TV series ER features characters Samantha Taggart and Luka Kovac going to Canon City to find her son, who'd run away to find his father who was in prison there.

In the Japanese manga series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, a turn-of-the-century race across the United States from San Diego to New York City takes place as the main story of the story's seventh part, Steel Ball Run. Cañon City (spelled Canon City) is featured as the third stage finish line and checkpoint for the racers.

Sister cities
See also: List of sister cities in Colorado

Cañon City's sister cities are:[40]

See also

References
  1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  2. "2014 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  3. "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  5. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on September 3, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  8. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  9. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Cañon City city, Colorado". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  10. Welch, Michael; Turner, Fatiniyah (2007). "Private Corrections, Financial Infrastructure, and Transportation: The New Geo-Economy of Shipping Prisoners". Social Justice. 34 (3): 57. JSTOR 29768464.
  11. "Cañon City". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  12. "Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City Times, 10 November 1860, p.4.
  13. Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960), Historical summary, in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.
  14. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  15. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  16. "United States of America Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  17. Weather.com—. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  18. "Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District: About Us". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  19. "Nominees for the Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation are due Sunday". Cañon City Daily Record. November 25, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  22. https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21726122-though-federal-policy-prisons-moving-backwards-politics-incarceration-has-not
  23. "Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility Archived 2014-08-09 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."
  24. "Death Row FAQ." (Archive) Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  25. "Colorado State Penitentiary Archived 2014-08-04 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  26. "Arrowhead Correctional Center Archived 2012-08-01 at Archive.today." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  27. "Centennial Correctional Facility Archived 2014-08-04 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  28. "Fremont Correctional Facility Archived 2014-08-04 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  29. "Four Mile Correctional Center Archived 2014-08-04 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  30. "Skyline Correctional Center Archived 2014-08-04 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"
  31. "1929 Colorado State Penitentiary riot". The Archive.
  32. Mitchell, Kirk. "Cañon City women's prison closes today." The Denver Post. June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  33. "GDE Testing Centers by City Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine." Colorado Department of Education. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility 3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."
  34. "Airport". Archived from the original on 2018-02-13.
  35. "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.
  36. "Cañon City Schools". Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  37. Canon City. IMDb. June 30, 1948. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  38. Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014.
  39. Enger, Jeremy (November 19, 2015). "Red, Reich and Blue: Building the World of 'The Man in the High Castle'". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  40. "Sister Cities: Valdai, Novgorod Oblast, Russia". canoncity.org. Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center. 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

Area attractions
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