Breckenridge, Colorado#Climate

The first prospectors in the area built a stockade known as Fort Mary B named after Mary Bigelow, who was the only woman in the party. The town of Breckenridge was founded in November 1859 and named for prospector Thomas Breckenridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-county-history-two-theories-of-how-breckenridge-got-its-name-2/|title=Summit County history: Two theories of how Breckenridge got its name|work=SummitDaily|last=Hague|first=Rick|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=September 29, 2022}} General George E. Spencer persuaded the citizens to change the spelling of the town's name to Breckinridge in honor of U.S. Vice President John Cabell Breckinridge in the hopes of gaining a post office. Spencer succeeded in his plan and on January 18, 1860, the Breckinridge post office became the first U.S. post office between the Continental Divide and Salt Lake City.{{cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740&view=1up&seq=17|title=Breckenridge|work=Place Names in Colorado: Why 700 Communities Were So Named|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|page=11|date=1954|access-date=September 29, 2022}} Thirty days after John Breckinridge accepted a commission as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on November 2, 1861, the loyal Union town changed its name back to the original Breckenridge on December 2, 1861.{{cite web

|title=Town History, Gold Dust to White Gold

|work=Special Features

|publisher=Town of Breckenridge

|url=http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.cfm?d=history

|access-date=February 23, 2007

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209234241/http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.cfm?d=history

|archive-date=February 9, 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

File:Snow tunnel to Breckenridge CO , 1898.jpg

Prospectors entered what is now Summit County (then part of Utah Territory) during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859, soon after the placer gold discoveries east of Breckenridge near Idaho Springs. Breckenridge was founded to serve the miners working rich placer gold deposits discovered along the Blue River. Placer gold mining was soon joined by hard rock mining, as prospectors followed the gold to its source veins in the hills. Gold in some upper gravel benches east of the Blue River was recovered by hydraulic mining. Gold production decreased in the late 1800s, but revived in 1908 by gold dredging operations along the Blue River and Swan River. The Breckenridge mining district is credited with production of about one million troy ounces (about 31,000 kilograms) of gold.A. H. Koschman and M. H. Bergendahl (1968) Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States. US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 610, p.116–117

The gold mines around Breckenridge are all shut down, although some are open to tourist visits. The characteristic gravel ridges left by the gold dredges can still be seen along the Blue River and Snake River, and the remains of a dredge are still afloat in a pond off the Swan River.

Notable among the early prospectors was Edwin Carter, a log cabin naturalist who decided to switch from mining to collecting wildlife specimens. His log cabin, built in 1875, still stands today and has been recently renovated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance with interactive exhibits and a small viewing room with a short creative film on his life and the early days around Breckenridge.

Harry Farncomb found the source of the French Gulch placer gold on Farncomb Hill in 1878. His strike, Wire Patch, consisted of alluvial gold in wire, leaf and crystalline forms. By 1880, he owned the hill. Farncomb later discovered a gold vein, which became the Wire Patch Mine. Other vein discoveries included Ontario, Key West, Boss, Fountain, and Gold Flake.Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555}}{{rp|57}}

File:Gold-263851.jpg

The Town of Breckenridge was incorporated on March 3, 1880. The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance reports that in the 1930s, a women's group in Breckenridge stumbled upon an 1880s map that failed to include Breckenridge. They speculated that Breckenridge had never been officially annexed into the United States, and was thus still considered "No Man's Land". This was completely false—official US maps did include Breckenridge—but these women created an incredibly clever marketing campaign out of this one map. In 1936 they invited the Governor of Colorado to Breckenridge to raise a flag at the Courthouse officially welcoming Breckenridge into the union—and he came. There was a big party, and the entire event/idea of Breckenridge being left off the map made national news. The "No Man's Land" idea later morphed into a new theme of Breckenridge being referred to as "Colorado's Kingdom", and the theme of the town's independent spirit is still celebrated to today during the annual "Kingdom Days" celebrations every June.

In December 1961, skiing was introduced to Breckenridge when several trails were cut on the lower part of Peak 8, connected to town by Ski Hill Road. In the ensuing decades, the ski area was gradually expanded onto adjacent peaks, with trails opening on Peak 9 in the early 1970s, Peak 10 in 1985, Peak 7 in 2002, and Peak 6 in 2013.

On November 3, 2009, voters passed ballot measure 2F by a nearly 3 to 1 margin (73%), which legalized marijuana possession for adults. The measure allows possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and also decriminalizes the possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia. Possession became legal January 1, 2010. Possession was still illegal by state law, however, until the passage of Colorado Amendment 64 in 2012.

{{cite news

| title =Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Pot

| publisher =CBS

| date =November 3, 2009

| url =https://www.cbsnews.com/news/breckenridge-votes-to-legalize-pot/

| access-date =November 5, 2009}}

Breckenridge is located at coordinates {{coord|39.4817|-106.0384|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204681|name=Breckenridge, Colorado|display=inline}}.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of {{convert|15.661|km2|mi2|order=flip}}, all of it land. The ski area has a total area of {{convert|2880|acre|km2}} of land. The elevation of Breckenridge is {{Convert|9601|ft|m}} above sea level.

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{{wide image|Breckenridge,CO-Panorama.jpg|1410px|A spring panorama of Breckenridge}}

Breckenridge's climate is considered to be high-alpine with the tree line at {{convert|11500|ft|m}}.

The average humidity remains around 30% throughout the year.{{cite web |url=http://townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=368 |title=Town of Breckenridge : Living in Breckenridge |website=townofbreckenridge.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102082727/http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=368 |archive-date=January 2, 2009}} At the elevation of the weather station, the climate could be described as a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc) since summer means are above {{convert|50|F|C}} in spite of the very cool mornings. Winter lows are quite severe, but afternoons averaging around the freezing mark somewhat moderate mean temperatures.

A weather station was run in the town from 1893 to 1913, and from 1948 to the present day. However, temperature measurements are mostly confined to the first period, and the temperature record is thus very sparse. Even so, a temperature of freezing or below was recorded for every single date of the year except July 26.{{Cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bou|title=National Weather Service Climate|author=National Weather Service |website=w2.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408214757/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bou|archive-date=April 8, 2020}} During the winter of 1898–1899, snow was reported to fall for a record 79 consecutive days. Residents tunneled through the snow to navigate Main Street.{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Kelly |title=It once snowed for 79 days straight in this Colorado town |url=https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/it-once-snowed-for-79-days-straight-in-this-colorado-town/73-503962275 |website=9news.com |access-date=January 14, 2024 |date=January 3, 2018}}

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{{Weather box

|location = Breckenridge, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–1978

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 72

|Feb record high F = 71

|Mar record high F = 61

|Apr record high F = 69

|May record high F = 78

|Jun record high F = 85

|Jul record high F = 86

|Aug record high F = 90

|Sep record high F = 86

|Oct record high F = 77

|Nov record high F = 69

|Dec record high F = 60

|year record high F = 90

|Jan avg record high F = 45.5

|Feb avg record high F = 45.4

|Mar avg record high F = 51.9

|Apr avg record high F = 60.3

|May avg record high F = 68.2

|Jun avg record high F = 76.4

|Jul avg record high F = 79.5

|Aug avg record high F = 79.9

|Sep avg record high F = 74.5

|Oct avg record high F = 67.1

|Nov avg record high F = 57.0

|Dec avg record high F = 48.3

|year avg record high F = 80.8

|Jan high F = 29.7

|Feb high F = 30.4

|Mar high F = 36.9

|Apr high F = 44.4

|May high F = 53.4

|Jun high F = 65.2

|Jul high F = 70.2

|Aug high F = 70.3

|Sep high F = 63.9

|Oct high F = 51.8

|Nov high F = 40.7

|Dec high F = 30.4

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 15.1

|Feb mean F = 15.9

|Mar mean F = 22.5

|Apr mean F = 30.6

|May mean F = 39.1

|Jun mean F = 48.4

|Jul mean F = 53.8

|Aug mean F = 53.4

|Sep mean F = 46.5

|Oct mean F = 36.0

|Nov mean F = 25.4

|Dec mean F = 15.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 0.2

|Feb low F = 1.1

|Mar low F = 8.4

|Apr low F = 16.5

|May low F = 24.8

|Jun low F = 31.7

|Jul low F = 37.3

|Aug low F = 36.6

|Sep low F = 29.1

|Oct low F = 20.1

|Nov low F = 10.0

|Dec low F = 0.3

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -22.2

|Feb avg record low F = -21.0

|Mar avg record low F = -11.5

|Apr avg record low F = -4.0

|May avg record low F = 8.9

|Jun avg record low F = 21.9

|Jul avg record low F = 28.6

|Aug avg record low F = 28.2

|Sep avg record low F = 17.0

|Oct avg record low F = 3.2

|Nov avg record low F = -10.9

|Dec avg record low F = -21.0

|year avg record low F = -28.3

|Jan record low F = -40

|Feb record low F = -37

|Mar record low F = -25

|Apr record low F = -35

|May record low F = -6

|Jun record low F = 3

|Jul record low F = 10

|Aug record low F = 22

|Sep record low F = 7

|Oct record low F = -11

|Nov record low F = -26

|Dec record low F = -36

|year record low F = -40

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.73

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.88

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.03

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.46

|May precipitation inch = 1.97

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.16

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.45

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.24

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.53

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.35

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.45

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.52

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 27.7

|Feb snow inch = 27.7

|Mar snow inch = 27.6

|Apr snow inch = 28.0

|May snow inch = 9.5

|Jun snow inch = 0.8

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 2.2

|Oct snow inch = 13.6

|Nov snow inch = 23.7

|Dec snow inch = 23.8

|year snow inch =

|Jan snow depth inch = 22

|Feb snow depth inch = 28

|Mar snow depth inch = 29

|Apr snow depth inch = 21

|May snow depth inch = 5

|Jun snow depth inch = 0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0

|Sep snow depth inch = 1

|Oct snow depth inch = 5

|Nov snow depth inch = 9

|Dec snow depth inch = 16

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.7

|Feb precipitation days = 12.3

|Mar precipitation days = 12.5

|Apr precipitation days = 12.8

|May precipitation days = 10.3

|Jun precipitation days = 8.2

|Jul precipitation days = 13.4

|Aug precipitation days = 14.4

|Sep precipitation days = 10.0

|Oct precipitation days = 8.6

|Nov precipitation days = 10.1

|Dec precipitation days = 11.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 12.5

|Feb snow days = 12.2

|Mar snow days = 12.0

|Apr snow days = 11.3

|May snow days = 4.4

|Jun snow days = 0.6

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 1.0

|Oct snow days = 5.7

|Nov snow days = 9.7

|Dec snow days = 11.1

|source 1 = National Weather Service (average daily high/mean/low, mean maxima/minima 1893–1978)

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boulder/Denver

|access-date = February 28, 2023

}}

|source 2 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050909&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access

|access-date = August 6, 2022

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1870= 51

|1880= 1657

|1900= 976

|1910= 834

|1920= 796

|1930= 436

|1940= 381

|1950= 296

|1960= 393

|1970= 548

|1980= 818

|1990= 1285

|2000= 2408

|2010= 4540

|2020= 5078

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census

}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,408 people, 1,081 households, and 380 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|486.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,270 housing units at an average density of {{convert|862.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.56% White, 0.37% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.44% of the population.

There were 1,081 households, out of which 13.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.9% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.1% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 45.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 2.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 164.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,938, and the median income for a family was $52,212. Males had a median income of $29,571 versus $27,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,675. About 5.2% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

For 2009 the average price for a single family home in the Breckenridge area is $1,035,806 with a sold price per square foot of $314.00. For multifamily properties the average price is $560,689 with a sales price per square foot of $440. Land sales prices averaged $373,067.

{{cite web| title =Breckenridge Real Estate| work =General Market Reports| publisher =Andrew Biggin| url =http://www.breckenridgehomes.net/General_Market_Reports| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061211194543/http://www.breckenridgehomes.net/General_Market_Reports| url-status =dead| archive-date =December 11, 2006| access-date =December 22, 2009}}

File:Litle V. USA. 99.jpg posing with other members of team at the International Snow Sculpture Championships in 1999]]

Breckenridge holds public events throughout the year.

Every January, the International Snow Sculpture Championships are held in Breckenridge, where sculptors from around the world compete to create works of art from twenty-ton blocks of snow. The annual winter Ullr Fest parade pays homage to the Norse god of snow Ullr. The Backcountry Film Fest began in the 21st century, which happens in January. That is held about the same time as the Ullr Fest.

Since winter of 2008–2009, the Freeway Terrain Park on Peak 8 hosts the Winter Dew Tour in December, featuring the biggest names in extreme snowboarding and skiing. Other events held on the mountain include the annual Imperial Challenge, Breck's version of a triathlon, The 5 Peaks, North America's longest ski mountaineering race, the Breck Ascent Series, with races up the mountain, as well as other competitions, festivals, and the annual Spring Fever month-long celebration at the end of the ski season with festivities and other celebrations around spring skiing.{{cite web |title=Breckenridge Snow Sculptures |work=Breckenridge Real Estate – Snow Sculptures |publisher=Ron Shelton |url=http://skicountryhomes.com/Snow_Sculptures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227072256/http://skicountryhomes.com/Snow_Sculptures |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 27, 2009 |access-date=December 12, 2009 }}

During the summer, Breckenridge is host to the National Repertory Orchestra and the Breckenridge Music Institute. Concerts are scheduled three to four nights a week. Full orchestra, ensembles, and contemporary artists perform at the Riverwalk Center, downtown near the Blue River. Several art fairs come to Breckenridge every summer, attracting many local artists and buyers. The town also puts on an annual Fourth of July celebration, featuring a parade in the morning and fireworks at night. In September each year since 1981, the Breckenridge Festival of film is held.

Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Breckenridge include:

• Pat Ahern (1961– ), U.S. Olympic Nordic combined skier
• Edwin Carter (c.1830–1900), miner, naturalist{{cite web | title = Edwin Carter Discovery Center | publisher = Breckenridge Heritage Alliance | url = http://breckheritage.com/edwin-carter-discovery-center/ | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160622170554/http://breckheritage.com/edwin-carter-discovery-center/ | archive-date = June 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}
• Jeff Cravath (1903–1953), football coach{{cite web | title = Jeff Cravath | website = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186578/ | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• Barney Ford (1822–1902), Colorado businessman and civil-rights pioneer
• Arielle Gold (1996– ), Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder{{cite web | last = Foltz | first = Sebastian | title = Steamboat Olympic snowboarders Taylor and Arielle Gold at home in Breckenridge | publisher = Summit Daily | date = March 6, 2015 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/news/15323558-113/growing-up-golden | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822215010/http://www.summitdaily.com/news/15323558-113/growing-up-golden | archive-date = August 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}
• Taylor Gold (1993– ), Olympic snowboarder
• Al Jourgensen (1958– ), singer-songwriter, producer{{cite magazine | last = Murphy | first = Tom | title = Ministry's Al Jourgensen on his ties to Colorado: living in Breckenridge, attending Greeley High School and his ill-fated attempt at a rodeo career | magazine = Westword | date = June 12, 2012 | url = http://www.westword.com/music/ministrys-al-jourgensen-on-his-ties-to-colorado-living-in-breckenridge-attending-greeley-high-school-and-his-ill-fated-attempt-at-a-rodeo-career-5683383#! | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• Heather McPhie (1984– ), U.S. Olympic freestyle/moguls skier{{cite web | last = Frame | first = Andy | title = McPhie wins Landon Sawyer Bump Bash | publisher = Summit Daily | date = April 9, 2005 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050409/SPORTS/104090033 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• Monique Merrill (1969– ), mountain biker, ski mountaineer{{cite web | last = McClean | first = Page | title = Life on Two Wheels: Globetrotting with former adventure racer Monique Merrill | publisher = Summit Daily | date = July 25, 2015 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/news/17401997-113/life-on-two-wheels-globetrotting-with-former-adventure | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• J. R. Moehringer (1964– ), novelist, reporter{{cite news | last = Clarke | first = Norm | title = AN 'OPEN' DISCUSSION WITH JR MOEHRINGER | newspaper = Las Vegas Review-Journal | date = January 5, 2010 | url = http://www.reviewjournal.com/norm-clarke/open-discussion-jr-moehringer | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• Helen Rich (1894–1971), novelist and journalist{{cite book |first=Gail M. |last=Beaton |date=2012 |title=Colorado Women: A History |type=book |location=Boulder, Colorado |publisher=University Press of Colorado |isbn=978-1607321958}}
• Betsy Sodaro (1984– ), actress, comedian{{cite web | last = Porter IV | first = Miles | title = Hey, Spike! offers a plethora of personalities | publisher = Summit Daily | date = August 30, 2012 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120831/NEWS/120839991 | access-date = June 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822204420/http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120831/NEWS/120839991 | archive-date = August 22, 2016 | url-status = dead }}
• Pete Swenson (1967– ), ski mountaineer{{cite web | last = Lapides | first = Katie | title = Colorado's randonee king: Pete Swenson | publisher = Summit Daily | date = February 10, 2011 | url = http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20110211/SPORTS/110219968 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}
• Belle Turnbull (1881–1970), poet
• Katie Uhlaender (1984– ), U.S. Olympic skeleton racer{{cite web | title = Katie Uhlaender | publisher = Team USA | url = http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/UH/Katie-Uhlaender | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130904190842/http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/UH/Katie-Uhlaender | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 4, 2013 | access-date = June 17, 2016}}

{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}

• Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area
• Breckenridge STOLport
• List of county seats in Colorado
• List of municipalities in Colorado
• List of populated places in Colorado
• List of post offices in Colorado

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{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|auto=yes}}

• [https://www.townofbreckenridge.com/ Town of Breckenridge]
• [https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
• [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Breckenridge.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Breckenridge]
• [https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
• [https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/breckenridge/ Breckenridge gold mining history] at Western Mining History

{{Summit County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}

{{Colorado}}

{{National Register of Historic Places}}

{{Colorado county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:County seats in Colorado

Category:Towns in Summit County, Colorado

Category:Towns in Colorado

Category:1859 establishments in Utah Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1859

Category:John C. Breckinridge