Center, Colorado

{{Short description|Statutory town in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado, USA}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{infobox settlement  | name = Center, Colorado | official_name = Town of Center<ref name=COMun/> |settlement_type = statutory town<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=Colorado Department of Local Affairs|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref> | motto =  | image_skyline = Center, Colorado.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Center in winter, December 2012 | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = File:Rio Grande County and Saguache County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Center Highlighted 0812855.svg | mapsize = | map_caption = Location of the Town of Center in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado. | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y =  |pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado |pushpin_relief = |pushpin_label = Center |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Center, Colorado.  |coordinates = {{coord|37.753556|-106.108258|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-203419|name=Center, Colorado|display=it}} |coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=203419|name=Center, Colorado|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref> |elevation_ft = 7645 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Colorado |subdivision_type2 = Counties<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=Colorado Department of Local Affairs|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref> |subdivision_name2 = Saguache<br/>Rio Grande  |government_footnotes = |government_type = statutory town<ref name=COMun/> | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title =  | established_date = | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = January 18, 1907<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030823045734/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 23, 2003 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | accessdate = September 2, 2007}}</ref> | established_title3 =  | established_date3 =  | unit_pref = US | area_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 2.238 | area_land_km2 = 2.238 | area_water_km2 = 0.000  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = <ref name=2020_Census/> | population_total = 1,929 | population_density_sq_mi = 2,232  |timezone = MST |utc_offset = −07:00 |timezone_DST = MDT |utc_offset_DST = −06:00  |postal_code_type = ZIP code<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=United States Postal Service|access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref> |postal_code = 81125 |area_code_type = Area code |area_code = 719 |blank_name = GNIS pop ID |blank_info = {{GNIS 4|203419}} |blank1_name = GNIS town ID |blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2413186}} |blank2_name = FIPS code |blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|12855}} |website = {{URL|https://www.colorado.gov/townofcenter}} |footnotes = }}

'''Center''' is a statutory town located in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado, United States.<ref name=COMun/> The town's population was 1,929 at the 2020 United States census with 1,885 residing in Saguache County and 44 residing in Rio Grande County.<ref name=2020_Census/>

==History== The Centerview, Colorado, post office opened on April 22, 1898, but the name of the post office was changed to Center, Colorado, on July 1, 1899.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation|location=Golden, Colorado|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> The Town of Center was incorporated on January 18, 1907.<ref name=COMun/> The town lies near the center of the San Luis Valley, hence the name.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=19|year=1954|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=13}}</ref>

==Facilities== thumb|left|The Center Town Hall. Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C.<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&q=center+leach+field&sll=37.784792,-106.046906&sspn=0.013228,0.027874&ie=UTF8&split=1&filter=0&rq=1&ev=zi&radius=0.76&hq=center+leach+field&hnear=&ll=37.793575,-106.0427&spn=0.013228,0.027874&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=1742539667178779438 Google.com: ''Leach Airport Map and Data'']</ref> The nearest college is Adams State College; 23 miles to Alamosa, Colorado. {{clear|left}}

==Geography== At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of {{convert|2.238|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate=== Center has a cold desert climate (Köppen ''BWk''), bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen ''BSk''). {{Weather box |location = Center 4 SSW, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, 1941-2020 records: {{convert|7673|ft|m|abbr=on}} |single line = Yes |collapsed = Yes |Jan record high F = 59 |Feb record high F = 65 |Mar record high F = 74 |Apr record high F = 83 |May record high F = 88 |Jun record high F = 95 |Jul record high F = 94 |Aug record high F = 90 |Sep record high F = 89 |Oct record high F = 81 |Nov record high F = 68 |Dec record high F = 61 |year record high F =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00051458&format=pdf |title = Center 4 SSW, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals |access-date = January 7, 2024 }} </ref> |source 2 = XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS> {{cite web |url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = xmACIS |access-date = January 7, 2024 }} </ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=right |1910= 385 |1920= 547 |1930= 1011 |1940= 1515 |1950= 2024 |1960= 1600 |1970= 1470 |1980= 1630 |1990= 1963 |2000= 2392 |2010= 2230 |2020= 1929 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Center had a population of 1,929. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.7 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A12855&in=state%3A08|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A12855&in=state%3A08|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

28.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A12855&in=state%3A08|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 737 households in Center, of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.3% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 860 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 584 || 30.3% |- | Black or African American || 3 || 0.2% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 89 || 4.6% |- | Asian || 1 || 0.1% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 436 || 22.6% |- | Two or more races || 816 || 42.3% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 1,733 || 89.8% |}

===Income and poverty=== The median income for a household in the town was $23,780, and the median income for a family was $26,143. Males had a median income of $20,844 versus $18,036 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,289. About 27.1% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 22.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>{{clear left}} ==Education== * Public high schools: # Center High School - grades 9 - 12 # The Academic Recovery Center of San Luis Valley - grades 9 - 12 * Public elementary/middle schools: # Haskin Elementary School # Skoglund Middle School - grades 6 - 8 * Private elementary/middle school in Center: # High Valley Christian School {{center}}

==See also== {{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}} *List of municipalities in Colorado *List of populated places in Colorado *List of post offices in Colorado {{clear}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{sister project links|auto=yes}} *[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado] **[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado] * {{Official website|https://townofcenter.colorado.gov/}} {{Saguache County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}} {{Rio Grande County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}} {{Colorado}} {{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Rio Grande County, Colorado Category:Towns in Saguache County, Colorado Category:Towns in Colorado Category:1898 establishments in Colorado Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1898

Center, Colorado

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