| Coordinates | 37.753556°N 106.108258°W |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 7645 ft |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Counties[1] | Saguache Rio Grande |
| Incorporated | January 18, 1907[2] |
| Unit pref | US |
| Area total | 2.238 km² |
| Area land | 2.238 km² |
| Area water | 0.000 km² |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 1,929 |
| Population density | 2,232 sq mi |
| Time zone | MST (UTC−07:00) |
| Time zone (DST) | MDT (UTC−06:00) |
| ZIP code[3] | 81125 |
| Area code | 719 |
| Website | www.colorado.gov/townofcenter |
Center is a statutory town located in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado, United States.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] The Town of Center was incorporated on January 18, 1907.[4] The town lies near the center of the San Luis Valley, hence the name.[7]
Facilities
Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C.[8] The nearest college is Adams State College; 23 miles to Alamosa, Colorado.
Geography
At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of 553 acres (2.238 square kilometres), all of it land.[5]
Climate
Center has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk), bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).
Demographics
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.[9][10]
28.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[9]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]
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.[9]
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%.[9]
| 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.[12]
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
See also
- List of municipalities in Colorado
- List of populated places in Colorado
- List of post offices in Colorado
References
- ^ "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on August 23, 2003. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Dawson, John Frank (1954). 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. 13.
- ^ Google.com: Leach Airport Map and Data
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.