Gunnison, Colorado
Encyclopedia : G : GU : GUN : Gunnison, Colorado
Gunnison is a city in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,409. It is the county seat of Gunnison County[Geographic references#6GR6]. The city was named after John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853.
Gunnison is the home of Western State College. The Gunnison County Airport serves the valley and nearby Crested Butte, Colorado with both commercial airline and general aviation flights.
Gunnison is located at the bottom of several valleys. Due to its location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air in all the valleys settles into Gunnison at night, making it one of the coldest places in the United States.
History
Gunnison isolated themselves from the surrounding area during the Spanish Influenza epidemic for two months at the end of 1918. All highways were barricaded near the county lines. Train conductors warned all passengers that if they stepped outside of the train in Gunnison, the would be arrested and quarantined for five days. As a result of the isolation, no one died of influenza in Gunnison during the epidemic.Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²). All of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 5,409 people, 2,083 households, and 904 families residing in the city. The population density was 650.6/km² (1,684.6/mi²). There were 2,276 housing units at an average density of 273.8/km² (708.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.49% White, 0.78% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.91% of the population.There were 2,083 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.6% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 39.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 120.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,768, and the median income for a family was $41,761. Males had a median income of $27,016 versus $21,194 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,196. About 10.1% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- [City of Gunnison] (official website)
- [Western State College of Colorado] (official website)
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