Dinosaur, Colorado

{{short description|Town in Colorado, US}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Dinosaur, Colorado | official_name = Town of Dinosaur | 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=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | native_name = | nickname = | named_for = Dinosaur National Monument | motto =  | image_skyline = Tyrannosaurus street sign.JPG | image_caption = A sign for Tyrannosaurus Trail, a street in Dinosaur | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = Dinosaur, CO Logo.png | blank_emblem_type = Logo | blank_emblem_size = 200 | image_map = File:Moffat County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Dinosaur Highlighted 0820495.svg | map_caption = Location in {{nowrap|Moffat County, Colorado}} | pushpin_map = USA#USA Colorado | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_label = Dinosaur | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Dinosaur, Colorado. | coordinates = {{coord|40.2436|-109.0146|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-171542|name=Dinosaur, Colorado|display=it}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=171542|name=Dinosaur, Colorado|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | elevation_ft = 5922 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Colorado | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Moffat<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=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | government_footnotes = | government_type = Statutory town<ref name=COMun/> | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | established_title =  | established_date = | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = December 18, 1947<ref name=COMun/> | established_title3 =  | established_date3 =  | unit_pref = US | total_type = Total | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Colorado |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_08.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=November 29, 2022}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 2.408 | area_land_km2 = 2.408 | area_water_km2 = 0.000 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0820495&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Dinosaur town, Colorado: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=November 29, 2022}}</ref> | population_total = 243 | population_density_sq_mi = 261 | population_metro = 13292 | population_blank1_title = CSA | population_blank1 = 38121 | timezone = MST | utc_offset = −07:00 | timezone_DST = MDT | utc_offset_DST = −06:00 | postal_code_type = ZIP codes<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=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | postal_code = 81610 & 81633 | area_code_type = Area codes | area_code = 970/748 | blank_name = GNIS place ID | blank_info = {{GNIS 4|171542}} | blank1_name = GNIS town ID | blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|2412432}} | blank2_name = FIPS code | blank2_info = {{FIPS|08|20495}} | website = {{URL|townofdinosaur.colorado.gov}} | footnotes = }}

'''Dinosaur''' is a statutory town in Moffat County, Colorado, United States.<ref name=COMun/> As of the 2020 census, the population was 243,<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 339 at the 2010 census. Dinosaur is a part of the Steamboat Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

==History== The town of Dinosaur was originally known as "Baxter Springs", owned by Art and Fanny Baxter. It was renamed "Artesia" for its valued water supply when a town was platted to accommodate the oil boom in the 1940s. The Artesia, Colorado, post office opened on March 20, 1946,<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> and the Town of Artesia was incorporated on December 18, 1947.<ref name=COMun/> On January 1, 1966, the town's name was changed to Dinosaur due to its proximity to Dinosaur National Monument.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.colorado.com/Dinosaur.aspx |title=Dinosaur |year=2010 |accessdate=May 30, 2010 |publisher=Colorado Tourism Office}}</ref> The headquarters of Dinosaur National Monument is located just east of the town on U.S. Highway 40.

==Geography== Dinosaur is located in the southwestern Moffat County at coordinates {{coord|40.2436|-109.0146|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-171542|name=Dinosaur, Colorado}} and elevation {{convert|5922|ft|0}}.<ref name=GNIS/> The Utah border is {{convert|2|mi|0}} to the west. US-40 runs along the northern border of the town, leading east {{convert|87|mi}} to Craig, the county seat, and west {{convert|33|mi}} to Vernal, Utah. Colorado State Highway 64 has its northern terminus in Dinosaur and leads southeast {{convert|18|mi}} to Rangely. The entrance and headquarters of Dinosaur National Monument are {{convert|2|mi|0}} east on US-40, with the main body of the park {{convert|19|mi}} to the north via Harpers Corner Road.

At the 2020 United States census, the town of Dinosaur had a total area of {{convert|2.408|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

Many streets in the town are named after dinosaurs, including Cletisaurus Circle, Tyrannosaurus Trail, and Antrodemus Alley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usacitiesonline.com/cocountydinosaur.htm |title=Key to the City: Dinosaur |accessdate=May 30, 2010 |publisher=usacitiesonline.com}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=left |1950= 281 |1960= 318 |1970= 247 |1980= 313 |1990= 324 |2000= 314 |2010= 339 |2020= 243 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census }} thumb|Dinosaur Town Hall As of the census<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> of 2000, there were 320 people, 124 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|400.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 156 housing units at an average density of {{convert|196.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.43% White, 0.31% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.

There were 124 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $43,500 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,904. About 18.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy== In addition to tourism related to the Dinosaur National Monument, cannabis dispensaries have been a significant part of Dinosaur's economy since the late 2010s. Because recreational cannabis is legal in Colorado but illegal in bordering Utah, Dinosaur's cannabis dispensaries serve Utah residents driving across the state line to purchase the drug legally.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210128225200/https://coloradosun.com/2019/02/25/dinosaur-colorado-pot-town-hall-searched/ Trouble in Dinosaur: Cop fired, town hall searched as border town reckons with new pot money, old problems]</ref>

==In popular culture== *In a 2022 television commercial for GoDaddy, an online retailer's staff celebrate after receiving an order from Dinosaur.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 22, 2022 |title=GoDaddy TV Spot, 'Dinosaur, Colorado' |language=en-US |work=Ispot.tv |url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/2tEe/godaddy-dinosaur-colorado |access-date=January 12, 2023 }}</ref>

==See also== {{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}} *Steamboat Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area *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://townofdinosaur.colorado.gov/ Town of Dinosaur] *[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado] **[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado] {{Moffat County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}} {{Colorado}} {{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Moffat County, Colorado Category:Towns in Colorado