Crested Butte, Colorado#History

{{about|the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado|the town's namesake mountain|Crested Butte|the nearby town of Mount Crested Butte|Mount Crested Butte, Colorado|the resort|Crested Butte Mountain Resort}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Crested Butte, Colorado

| settlement_type = Home rule municipality{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/municipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=Colorado Department of Local Affairs|access-date=October 15, 2021}}

| nicknames = Wildflower Capital of Colorado
The last great Colorado ski town

| motto =

| image_skyline = Crested Butte.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Crested Butte – the town and mountain

| image_flag =

| flag_size =

| image_seal =

| seal_size =

| image_map = Gunnison County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Crested Butte Highlighted 0818310.svg

| map_caption = Location of the Town of Crested Butte in {{nowrap|Gunnison County, Colorado.}}

| pushpin_map = USA

| pushpin_label = {{nowrap|Crested Butte}}

| pushpin_label_position = right

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Town of Crested Butte in the {{nowrap|United States.}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado}}

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Gunnison County

| government_footnotes =

| government_type = Home rule municipality

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title =

| established_date =

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = July 15, 1880{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}

| established_title3 =

| established_date3 =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{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}}

| area_total_km2 = 2.166

| area_land_km2 = 2.166

| area_water_km2 = 0.000

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 1,639

| population_density_sq_mi = 1,960

| timezone1 = MST

| utc_offset1 = −07:00

| timezone1_DST = MDT

| utc_offset1_DST = −06:00

| coordinates = {{coord|38|52|31|N|106|58|41|W|region:US-CO_type:city|format=dec|display=it}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| elevation_ft = 8865

| elevation_footnotes =

| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=JavaScript/HTML |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=September 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}

| postal_code = 81224 & 81225 (PO Box)

| area_code = 970

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 08-18310

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2412385{{GNIS|2412385}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.crestedbutte-co.gov/}}

}}

Crested Butte is a home rule municipality located in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,639 at the 2020 United States census. A former coal mining town nestled in the Slate River Valley, Crested Butte is now known as a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and outdoor activities.{{cite web |title=Visitor Information |url=https://www.crestedbutte-co.gov/index.asp?SEC=667659E8-A794-4D92-93A0-F5673599836E&Type=B_LOC |website=Town of Crested Butte, Colorado |access-date=May 3, 2021}}

History

The East River Valley where Crested Butte is located was once used as a summer residence by the Ute people. However, they were quickly displaced when European-Americans first entered the area. The first white people to explore the valley were beaver trappers, shortly followed by surveyors. Captain John Gunnison, after whom Gunnison County is named, was one of the early explorers to enter the area.

File:CBCityHallCrop.jpg

In the 1860s and 1870s coal and silver mines began to open in the surrounding area, and many little mining towns formed. Mining, along with ranching, formed the nexus of the local economy. However, when silver mining began to decline, many of these towns failed. Crested Butte, however, was in a better position to survive because it served as a supply town to the surrounding area.

When the coal mines closed, the town began to shrink, and eventually the local high school was closed. Students had to travel to Gunnison to go to high school. The town did not revive until a ski area was built on Crested Butte Mountain in the 1960s. After graduating the class of 1965 (from 1966 until 1990), the Crested Butte public school only facilitated K-5 students, while 6th grade and higher attended school in Gunnison.

The town did not revive until a ski area was built on Crested Butte Mountain in the 1960s. The ski resort was constructed on the former Malensek Ranch, in what is now the neighboring community of Mt. Crested Butte. The resort rapidly revitalized the town's economy around tourism. As a result of the renewed growth, Crested Butte began to offer middle school in the railroad depot building in 1990. In 1992, a new middle school was completed which allowed the public school to facilitate grades K through 8. Finally in 1997, a new facility for the Crested Butte Community School was completed. This included the addition of a public high school so that the school now serves students in grades K-12. In 1993 the Crested Butte Academy opened in Crested Butte, bringing a private high school into town. However, on July 9, 2008, the academy was closed permanently due to financial difficulties that had plagued its entire existence.[http://www.crestedbuttenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=681&Itemid=40 Academy to close its doors for good]. The Crested Butte News (July 9, 2008). Retrieved on 2012-01-03.

The town has changed from a mining town to a tourist retreat catering to the affluent as the ski resort has taken over the local economy. This has led to a housing crisis- the average home in Crested Butte is worth over $900,000.{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2021 |title=Crested Butte's housing affordability crisis is turning into an employment crisis |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/crested-buttes-housing-affordability-crisis-is-turning-into-an-employment-crisis |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH) |language=en}}

The Colorado General Assembly in 1990 designated Crested Butte the wildflower capital of Colorado.

Geography

File:CrestedButte2023.jpg

Crested Butte is in north-central Gunnison County on the west side of the valley of the Slate River, along Coal Creek. Colorado State Highway 135 runs south from Crested Butte {{convert|27|mi}} to Gunnison, the county seat.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of {{convert|2.166|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land. Crested Butte lies at an elevation of {{convert|8885|ft}} above sea level.U.S. Geological Survey Crested Butte CO 7.5 minute topographic map

=Climate=

The climate type is dominated by the winter season, a long, bitterly cold period with short, clear days, relatively little precipitation in the form of rain, but massive amounts in the form of snow, and low humidity. The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is Dfc (Continental Subarctic Climate).[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=959150&cityname=Crested+Butte%2C+Colorado%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Crested Butte, Colorado] The record snowfall amount was 415 inches in the 1977/1978 winter season.{{Cite web |title=It's a big snow year…but how big is it? |url=https://crestedbuttenews.com/2008/01/its-a-big-snow-year-but-how-big-is-it/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=The Crested Butte News |language=en-US}}

{{Weather box

|location = Crested Butte, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1910–present

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high F = 54

|Feb record high F = 52

|Mar record high F = 58

|Apr record high F = 72

|May record high F = 80

|Jun record high F = 89

|Jul record high F = 89

|Aug record high F = 91

|Sep record high F = 87

|Oct record high F = 78

|Nov record high F = 69

|Dec record high F = 60

|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 38.0

|Feb avg record high F = 42.4

|Mar avg record high F = 50.5

|Apr avg record high F = 61.1

|May avg record high F = 71.7

|Jun avg record high F = 80.2

|Jul avg record high F = 83.8

|Aug avg record high F = 81.0

|Sep avg record high F = 77.0

|Oct avg record high F = 68.9

|Nov avg record high F = 55.7

|Dec avg record high F = 41.3

|year avg record high F = 84.4

|Jan high F = 25.8

|Feb high F = 29.4

|Mar high F = 37.0

|Apr high F = 46.9

|May high F = 58.3

|Jun high F = 70.2

|Jul high F = 76.1

|Aug high F = 73.5

|Sep high F = 65.9

|Oct high F = 54.3

|Nov high F = 39.4

|Dec high F = 26.8

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 9.6

|Feb mean F = 13.7

|Mar mean F = 22.4

|Apr mean F = 33.0

|May mean F = 43.4

|Jun mean F = 51.9

|Jul mean F = 57.8

|Aug mean F = 55.9

|Sep mean F = 48.6

|Oct mean F = 38.2

|Nov mean F = 24.3

|Dec mean F = 11.3

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = -6.5

|Feb low F = -2.1

|Mar low F = 7.0

|Apr low F = 19.1

|May low F = 28.5

|Jun low F = 33.7

|Jul low F = 39.5

|Aug low F = 38.4

|Sep low F = 31.2

|Oct low F = 22.0

|Nov low F = 9.3

|Dec low F = -4.2

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -27.8

|Feb avg record low F = -25.4

|Mar avg record low F = -16.4

|Apr avg record low F = 3.0

|May avg record low F = 17.4

|Jun avg record low F = 25.6

|Jul avg record low F = 31.3

|Aug avg record low F = 30.6

|Sep avg record low F = 20.2

|Oct avg record low F = 7.0

|Nov avg record low F = -15.4

|Dec avg record low F = -26.1

|year avg record low F = -31.0

|Jan record low F = -43

|Feb record low F = -47

|Mar record low F = -42

|Apr record low F = -17

|May record low F = -1

|Jun record low F = 15

|Jul record low F = 17

|Aug record low F = 17

|Sep record low F = 3

|Oct record low F = -13

|Nov record low F = -30

|Dec record low F = -39

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.72

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.54

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.09

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.01

|May precipitation inch = 1.52

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.93

|Jul precipitation inch = 1.96

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.98

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.95

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.71

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.04

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.31

|year precipitation inch =

|snow colour = green

|Jan snow inch = 42.2

|Feb snow inch = 35.2

|Mar snow inch = 29.1

|Apr snow inch = 19.4

|May snow inch = 6.7

|Jun snow inch = 0.3

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 1.2

|Oct snow inch = 8.5

|Nov snow inch = 25.3

|Dec snow inch = 35.1

|year snow inch = 203.0

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 11.5

|Feb precipitation days = 11.8

|Mar precipitation days = 9.8

|Apr precipitation days = 9.7

|May precipitation days = 8.0

|Jun precipitation days = 5.9

|Jul precipitation days = 10.4

|Aug precipitation days = 12.0

|Sep precipitation days = 9.5

|Oct precipitation days = 7.8

|Nov precipitation days = 8.9

|Dec precipitation days = 11.2

|year precipitation days =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 11.7

|Feb snow days = 11.7

|Mar snow days = 9.7

|Apr snow days = 8.3

|May snow days = 3.3

|Jun snow days = 0.2

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.5

|Oct snow days = 3.9

|Nov snow days = 8.5

|Dec snow days = 11.3

|year snow days =

|Jan snow depth inch = 32.9

|Feb snow depth inch = 39.9

|Mar snow depth inch = 37.7

|Apr snow depth inch = 19.0

|May snow depth inch = 3.7

|Jun snow depth inch = 0.1

|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0.3

|Oct snow depth inch = 3.0

|Nov snow depth inch = 11.7

|Dec snow depth inch = 22.5

|year snow depth inch = 43.0

| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=gjt

| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = June 30, 2021

}}{{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=USC00051959&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = June 30, 2021

}} }}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|align=right

|1890= 857

|1900= 988

|1910= 904

|1920= 1213

|1930= 1251

|1940= 1145

|1950= 730

|1960= 289

|1970= 372

|1980= 959

|1990= 878

|2000= 1529

|2010= 1487

|2020= 1639

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 1,529 people, 692 households, and 253 families residing in the town. The population density was

{{convert|2,183.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 930 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,327.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.19% White, 0.26% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 2.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 692 households, out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.3% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 13.5% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 55.6% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 1.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 124.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $49,118. Males had a median income of $27,386 versus $23,073 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,789. 11.4% of the population and 2.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

=Festivals=

Crested Butte hosts a number of festivals and parades throughout the year. These include Torchlight, New Years, Winter Carnival, Butte Bash College Ski Week and Mardi Gras during the winter months; Extreme Board Fest, Slushuck and Flauschink during spring; the Crested Butte Bike Week, Crested Butte Music Festival, Crested Butte International Film Festival, 4th of July,{{Cite news| last = Harte| first = Julia| title = Fourth of July Parade Brings Scientists Dressed in Foliage—Some With Nothing Else| work =The Wall Street Journal| access-date = July 4, 2014| date = July 2, 2014

| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/fourth-of-july-parade-brings-scientists-dressed-in-foliagesome-with-nothing-else-1404354602?google_editors_picks=true}} the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, Alpenglow Concert Series, Festival of the Arts and Ball Bash during summer; and Fall Fest, Vinotok[http://www.americanheritage.com/content/secret-season Carla Davidson] "Secret Season: Colorado before the Snow Flies," American Heritage, August–September 2006. and Paragon Peoples' Fair during fall.

Parks and recreation

The town of Crested Butte has a Nordic Center which has an ice skating rink as well as cross-country skiing trails.{{Cite web |title=Crested Butte Nordic- Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado |url=https://cbnordic.org/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Crested Butte Nordic - Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado |language=en-US}} The town also has several parks, including Rainbow Park in the western section of town. Several hiking trails also exist, managed by the Crested Butte Land Trust.{{Cite web |title=Maps – CB Land Trust |url=https://www.cblandtrust.org/maps/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |language=en}}

The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame was located in Crested Butte before moving in 2014 to Fairfax, California.

Media

Movies filmed in Crested Butte include Snowball Express (1972), Snowbeast (1977), The Further Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1978), and Ink (2009), Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Infrastructure

Crested Butte is served by the Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport in Gunnison. The town runs a free bus service connecting the town of Crested Butte with the ski resort located northeast of town.{{Cite web |last=Creative |first=Kryptonite |title=Crested Butte Bus Schedule |url=https://travelcrestedbutte.com/crested-butte-bus-schedule/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Travel Crested Butte |language=en-US}} Additionally, buses connect the town to Gunnison. The town government is currently pursuing a transit and infrastructure strategy to "de-emphasize cars and focusing on walking, biking, rolling and transit".{{Cite web |title=CB council adopts its transportation mobility plan |url=https://crestedbuttenews.com/2024/03/cb-council-adopts-its-transportation-mobility-plan/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=The Crested Butte News |language=en-US}}

Since the 1970s, several companies have attempted to mine molybdenum on Mount Emmons (called the "Red Lady") near Crested Butte. In 1977 W Mitchell was elected mayor of Crested Butte and led a campaign which stopped AMAX (now Freeport-McMoRan) from building a billion-dollar molybdenum mine on Mount Emmons. Because of his battle against the anticipated environmental impact, Mitchell is known as the man who "saved a mountain".{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} The same year, 1977, saw the formation of the High Country Citizens' Alliance (HCCA), an environmental organization dedicated to protecting natural resources within the Upper Gunnison River Valley.{{cite news |last=Stevens |first=Mark |date=February 12, 1979 |title=Battle on Mount Emmons |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EZ1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VYADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6741,2827243&dq=mount-emmons&hl=en |access-date=June 9, 2013 |work=The Christian Science Monitor, cited by The Deseret News}}

Currently the rights for Mount Emmons molybdenum are owned by U.S. Energy Corp. On April 25, 2011, Thomson Creek Metals announced that it had terminated its option agreement with U.S. Energy Corp. to acquire an interest in the Mount Emmons molybdenum project.[http://www.thompsoncreekmetals.com/s/News_Releases.asp?ReportID=453181 Thompson Creek Metals Company – News Releases – Thompson Creek Terminates Option Agreement with U.S. Energy Corp. – Tue Jan 3, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809005918/http://www.thompsoncreekmetals.com/s/News_Releases.asp?ReportID=453181|date=August 9, 2011}}. Thompsoncreekmetals.com. Retrieved on January 3, 2012. Although US Energy continued to maintain its commitment to moving the project forward on its own behalf,[http://investor.usnrg.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=571420 Thompson Creek Metals Terminates Its Mount Emmons Option Agreement with U.S. Energy Corp. | U.S. Energy Corp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818152029/http://investor.usnrg.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=571420|date=August 18, 2011}}. Investor.usnrg.com (April 25, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-01-03. the withdrawal of Thomson Creek Metals was heralded as a major victory in the town of Crested Butte in its battle against the proposed molybdenum mine.[http://www.hccaonline.org/ High Country Citizens' Alliance – Home]. Hccaonline.org (November 18, 2010). Retrieved on 2012-01-03.