Fraser, Colorado

Fraser was incorporated in 1953.{{cite web |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_portal/filings.jsf?id=25006 |title=Local Government Filings |website=dola.colorado.gov |publisher=State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs |access-date=January 19, 2017}} A post office called Fraser has been in operation since 1876.{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=CO |title=Post offices |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=June 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306120236/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=CO |archive-date=March 6, 2016 }} The town derives its name from Reuben Frazer, a pioneer settler.{{cite book| last=Dawson| first=John Frank| title=Place names in Colorado: Why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin| year=1954| url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=29| publisher=J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.| location=Denver, CO| page=23}}

Fraser is located in southeastern Grand County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It is bordered to the south by the town of Winter Park and to the north by unincorporated Tabernash. U.S. Route 40 leads south and east across Berthoud Pass {{convert|71|mi}} to Denver, and northwest {{convert|15|mi}} to Granby, the largest town in Grand County.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of {{convert|8.966|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.013|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water. The Fraser River passes through the east side of town, flowing northward toward the Colorado River.

Fraser, with an annual mean temperature of {{convert|38.0|°F|°C|abbr=on}} (or {{convert|34.8|°F|°C|abbr=on}} based on another station in town) is one of the coldest incorporated towns in the lower 48 states. It can and does get frost year-round, totaling 287.3 nights under {{convert|32|F|C}}, rivalled only by towns in northern Alaska and Bodie, California, among currently inhabited localities in the United States. The total of 63.4 nights under {{convert|0|F|C|1}} is also among the highest in the contiguous 48 states, but the 59.9 days with highs not topping freezing is exceeded by substantial areas of North Dakota, Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Both Fraser and International Falls, Minnesota, have claimed the title "Icebox of the Nation", which has caused conflict between the two towns over the years.Riccardi, Nicholas. "[http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/16837100.htm Dueling for 'Icebox of Nation'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207021145/http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/16837100.htm |date=2012-02-07 }}." Journal Gazette. March 5, 2007. Retrieved on March 5, 2007.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Fraser has a subarctic climate, abbreviated Dfc on climate maps or Eolo in the Trewartha climate classification. The hottest temperature recorded in Fraser is {{convert|93|F|C|1}} on August 1, 1969, and the coldest {{convert|-43|F|C|1}} on January 10, 1962. The wettest calendar year has been 1957 with {{convert|30.33|in|mm|1}} and the driest 1944 with {{convert|11.04|in|mm|1}}, whilst the most precipitation in one month has been {{convert|7.69|in|mm|1}} in September 1961. Snowfall is naturally heavy at {{convert|143.2|in|m|2}} and has ranged up to {{convert|82.4|in|m|2}} in February 1936 and {{convert|275.5|in|m|2}} from July 1926 to June 1927.

A freeze has been recorded for every single date of the year, one of the only locations in the entire United States to hold that record.{{Cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bou|title=National Weather Service Climate|last=Team|first=National Weather Service Corporate Image Web|website=w2.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=April 11, 2020}}

{{Weather box

| location = Fraser, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1989–present

| single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

| Jan record high F = 50

| Feb record high F = 53

| Mar record high F = 65

| Apr record high F = 74

| May record high F = 81

| Jun record high F = 87

| Jul record high F = 93

| Aug record high F = 84

| Sep record high F = 82

| Oct record high F = 75

| Nov record high F = 65

| Dec record high F = 53

| Jan avg record high F = 42.0

| Feb avg record high F = 46.1

| Mar avg record high F = 54.8

| Apr avg record high F = 64.7

| May avg record high F = 74.1

| Jun avg record high F = 81.0

| Jul avg record high F = 83.3

| Aug avg record high F = 81.2

| Sep avg record high F = 76.7

| Oct avg record high F = 69.1

| Nov avg record high F = 55.3

| Dec avg record high F = 44.1

| year avg record high F = 83.7

| Jan high F = 30.8

| Feb high F = 34.4

| Mar high F = 42.7

| Apr high F = 51.1

| May high F = 62.1

| Jun high F = 72.4

| Jul high F = 76.8

| Aug high F = 74.5

| Sep high F = 68.0

| Oct high F = 55.7

| Nov high F = 41.1

| Dec high F = 30.7

| year high F =

| Jan mean F = 14.9

| Feb mean F = 18.2

| Mar mean F = 26.7

| Apr mean F = 35.4

| May mean F = 44.5

| Jun mean F = 52.5

| Jul mean F = 57.4

| Aug mean F = 55.6

| Sep mean F = 48.6

| Oct mean F = 38.3

| Nov mean F = 25.3

| Dec mean F = 15.0

| year mean F =

| Jan low F = -0.9

| Feb low F = 2.0

| Mar low F = 10.7

| Apr low F = 19.8

| May low F = 26.9

| Jun low F = 32.6

| Jul low F = 38.0

| Aug low F = 36.8

| Sep low F = 29.1

| Oct low F = 20.9

| Nov low F = 9.5

| Dec low F = -0.8

| year low F =

| Jan avg record low F = -25.9

| Feb avg record low F = -23.5

| Mar avg record low F = -15.0

| Apr avg record low F = 1.1

| May avg record low F = 16.0

| Jun avg record low F = 23.8

| Jul avg record low F = 29.6

| Aug avg record low F = 28.4

| Sep avg record low F = 17.5

| Oct avg record low F = 3.2

| Nov avg record low F = -15.0

| Dec avg record low F = -24.3

| year avg record low F = -30.9

| Jan record low F = -34

| Feb record low F = -43

| Mar record low F = -31

| Apr record low F = -19

| May record low F = 3

| Jun record low F = 20

| Jul record low F = 23

| Aug record low F = 24

| Sep record low F = 7

| Oct record low F = -19

| Nov record low F = -30

| Dec record low F = -41

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.94

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.43

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.79

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.04

| May precipitation inch = 1.27

| Jun precipitation inch = 1.18

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.90

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.73

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.63

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.62

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.37

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.68

| year precipitation inch =

| Jan snow inch = 24.7

| Feb snow inch = 24.7

| Mar snow inch = 19.4

| Apr snow inch = 18.6

| May snow inch = 3.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.4

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 1.2

| Oct snow inch = 9.5

| Nov snow inch = 16.2

| Dec snow inch = 25.5

| year snow inch =

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 10.7

| Feb precipitation days = 10.8

| Mar precipitation days = 8.3

| Apr precipitation days = 8.8

| May precipitation days = 7.4

| Jun precipitation days = 5.8

| Jul precipitation days = 8.9

| Aug precipitation days = 11.1

| Sep precipitation days = 7.9

| Oct precipitation days = 6.9

| Nov precipitation days = 7.9

| Dec precipitation days = 10.4

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 10.6

| Feb snow days = 10.8

| Mar snow days = 7.4

| Apr snow days = 6.0

| May snow days = 0.8

| Jun snow days = 0.1

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.5

| Oct snow days = 3.3

| Nov snow days = 7.4

| Dec snow days = 10.5

| source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00053116&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 8, 2022

}}

| source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

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

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data

|access-date = August 8, 2022

}}

| source =

}}

File:DSCN2504 frasercolorado e 600.jpg

{{see also|International Falls, Minnesota#Icebox of the Nation}}

Fraser, Colorado has been in a dispute with International Falls, Minnesota since 1956 over use of the trademark "Icebox of the Nation."[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22649329 Towns feud over claim to be nation's 'icebox'], Associated Press, January 14, 2008. Retrieved on May 1, 2015. After several years of legal battles, the United States Patent and Trademark Office officially registered the slogan with International Falls on January 29, 2008.[http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77124629&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch Trademark Status & Document Retrieval], United States Patent and Trademark Office, Accessed May 1, 2015.

{{clear|left}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1960= 253

|1970= 221

|1980= 470

|1990= 575

|2000= 910

|2010= 1224

|2020= 1400

|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 910 people, 410 households, and 191 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|491.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 622 housing units at an average density of {{convert|335.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.51% White, 0.88% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.

There were 410 households, out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.2% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% 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 2.71.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 46.2% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,173, and the median income for a family was $39,643. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $26,346 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,628. About 11.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

{{clear|left}}

File:Fraser, Colorado Town Hall.JPG

{{see also|Fraser–Winter Park station}}

Amtrak provides regular service to Fraser and nearby Winter Park (station code: WIP), operating its California Zephyr daily in each direction between Chicago, Illinois and Emeryville, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2015, Amtrak also resumed seasonal ski train service to the Winter Park Resort, and in 2025 they added a stop in Fraser.{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress|website=amtrak.com|publisher=Amtrak|access-date=January 19, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227115059/http://www.amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress|archive-date=February 27, 2015|via=Internet Archive|title=$75 Roundtrip Train Fares to Winter Park Resort | Amtrak }} The new Winter Park Express resumed ski train service that had been provided to the resort by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's Ski Train for nearly 70 years.{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/24/denver-to-winter-park-ski-train-returning/|title=Denver to Winter Park ski train returning for 2016-17: Tickets prices, schedules and details for new boarding platform at ski area will be announced Thursday|last=Blevins|first=Jason|newspaper=The Denver Post|publisher=Digital First Media|location=Denver|date=August 24, 2016|access-date=December 19, 2016}}

Other transportation options include the Bustang, which replaced the Greyhound bus, and Home James Transportation, which has provided shared shuttle and private charter transportation since 1982.

• Susan Anderson, physician known as "Doc Susie"
• Carlota D. EspinoZa

{{portal|Colorado}}

• Byers Peak
• Arapaho National Forest
• Saint Louis Creek

{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|auto=1}}

• [https://www.frasercolorado.com/ Town of Fraser website]
• [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Fraser.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Fraser]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050406112610/http://www.frasercolorado.com/Resources/history.html History of Fraser]

{{Grand County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado|show}}

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Category:Towns in Grand County, Colorado

Category:Towns in Colorado