Elbert, Colorado

Elbert, Colorado
Census-designated place
Elbert
Coordinates: 39°13′12″N 104°32′12″W / 39.22000°N 104.53667°W / 39.22000; -104.53667Coordinates: 39°13′12″N 104°32′12″W / 39.22000°N 104.53667°W / 39.22000; -104.53667
Country  United States
State  Colorado
Counties Elbert[1]
Area
 • Total 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
 • Land 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation[1] 6,715 ft (2,047 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 230
 • Density 485/sq mi (187.4/km2)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code[2] 80106
FIPS code 08-23520
GNIS feature ID 193207

Elbert is a census-designated place (CDP) and the location of a U.S. post office in Elbert County, Colorado, United States. Although it is unincorporated, Elbert has a post office with the ZIP code 80106.[2] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 230.[3]

History

A post office called Elbert has been in operation since 1875.[4] The community takes its name from Elbert County.[5]

The most significant flood events in Elbert County occurred in 1935, 1965, 1997, and 1999. The most damaging flood was in 1935, when flooding on Kiowa Creek destroyed three-fourths of the structures location in Elbert and resulted in nine deaths, seven of them in Elbert.[6] All bridges were lost, 59 buildings were destroyed, water was 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 m) deep, and there were 5 feet (1.5 m) of sand. Three-fourths of the town of Elbert was destroyed and not rebuilt. [7]

On 11 January 1998 a fireball was seen over Elbert County. On 4 March 2000 a stone of 680.5 g was found in a field by the five year old Dustin Riffel on the property of his family. It was officially named "Elbert" and it was classified as an ordinary chondrite LL6.[8]

On June 15, 2009, at 1:46 pm, a large three quarter mile-wide, EF2 tornado touched down in rural fields west of the town. The tornado came within 2 miles (3 km) of the town at its closest. The tornado destroyed a barn at a farm and damaged an airplane hangar.[9]

Geography

Elbert is located in southwestern Elbert County at 39°13′12″N 104°32′12″W / 39.22000°N 104.53667°W / 39.22000; -104.53667 (39.220019,-104.536800). It is in the valley of Kiowa Creek. Elbert Road leads north 10 miles (16 km) to Kiowa and south 11 miles (18 km) to Eastonville. Colorado Springs is 37 miles (60 km) to the southwest via Elbert Road and U.S. Route 24.

During the summer, Elbert is much busier due to a nearby Boy Scout camp, Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch, which has 10,000 visitors annually. 2.8 miles (4.5 km) south of Elbert lies the JCC Ranch Camp, a Jewish camp owned by the Denver Jewish Community Center.

Transportation

Elbert lies along Elbert Road, which connects the town of Kiowa to U.S. Highway 24. The largest nearby city is Castle Rock, which is about 45 minutes away via SH 86, which Elbert Road crosses at Kiowa. Colorado Springs is an hour drive via US 24.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. 1 2 "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. December 27, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Elbert CDP, Colorado". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Post offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 19.
  6. ↑ http://elbertcountycolorado.net
  7. ↑ http://www.dhsem.state.co.us/sites/default/files/Elbert%20County%204.2010.pdf
  8. ↑ Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Elbert
  9. ↑ http://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/19755778/detail.html

External links

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