Georgetown, Colorado#History

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File:Georgetown, Colorado (1867).jpg

Image:DSCN2128 georgetownsixthstreet e 600.jpg in the foreground]]

File:GraceChurchGeorgetownColorado.jpg, built in 1870, now overlooks Interstate 70.]]

File:Georgetown co.jpg

Image:DSCN2140 georgetownalpinehose e 600.jpg

File:Public School Georgetown.JPG

The area was first settled in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. George and David Griffith were members of a mining party which decided to separate from the others in the Central City and Idaho Springs areas. They found gold in Clear Creek (near the present-day site of the Alpine Inn) and decided to settle in the area for the rest of the summer and fall. The Griffith Mining District incorporated in June 1860. Soon after the formation of the Griffith Mining District, several early residents joined to form the "Georgetown Company," claiming 640 acres for a townsite. The townsite would be overseen by the Griffith Mining District. The commercial district was tagged "Main Street," a name which would continue into the 20th century. The center of the nascent town was roughly in the area of the I-70 interchange, close to the present-day Rutherford stables.{{cite web |url=http://www.townofgeorgetown.us/The%20first%20settlers%20came%20to%20the%20Georgetown%20area%20in%201859.pdf |title=First settlers came to the Georgetown are in 1859|access-date=July 1, 2022}}

Silver, the main product from the district, was not discovered until 1864. John Henry Bowman (1850–1900) came to Silver Plume, Colorado, in 1883, then moved to Georgetown, Colorado, in 1885. A machinist, he worked as foreman of the Miners Sampling Works. Later, he was superintendent of the American Sisters Mine, a company in which he owned stock. American Sisters Mine was a consolidation of Two Sisters Mine and Native American Mine, silver mines located on Columbia Mountain in upper Clear Creek County, Colorado. In 1891–1892, John Bowman and his wife, Lavinia Potts Bowman (1848–1901) built what later became known as the Bowman/White House in Georgetown (a historical site today). There they raised two daughters, Iorria and Mary Ellen ("Mellie"). In 1899, Iorria married J. E. Carnal and moved to Ohio.

For the most part, Mellie (1876–1969) stayed in the family home after she married John James ("J.J.") White (1870–1932) in 1901. She inherited half of her father's share in the American Sisters Mine and served on the Georgetown Library Association from 1911–1922.

Mellie's husband, John James White Sr., bought the remaining stock of what was now called the Two American Sisters Mine. He managed construction of a dam and power plant north of Georgetown, and built a new shaft house and mill at the mine site. White, an attorney, practiced law, served as the Police Judge (Mayor) of Georgetown from 1900–1902, and was President of the Georgetown school board. The Bowman-White House still remains, and is registered as a historical site in Georgetown, Colorado.Bowman/White Family Papers, WH32, Western History Collection, The Denver Public Library.

In the fall of 1867 discussions began about the formation of a town. On January 28, 1868, the Territorial Legislature passed a law incorporating the Town of Georgetown. A few months later it wrested the county seat from nearby Idaho Springs, which is a larger community today. The historic courthouse dates from this year. Georgetown is the only Colorado municipality that still operates under a charter from the Territory of Colorado which includes a Police Judge as Mayor and a Board of Selectmen instead of a Town Council. The building of the narrow-gauge Colorado Central Railroad up the canyon from Golden in the 1870s further increased the central position of the town. Although most of the railroad was later removed, a portion remained between the town and Silver Plume and is operated today as a tourist railroad called the Georgetown Loop. The town experienced its greatest growth and prosperity during the Colorado silver boom of the 1880s when it rivaled Leadville to the west as the mining capital of Colorado. At one time, before the collapse of the silver boom in 1893, the town population exceeded 10,000, and a movement arose briefly among local citizens to move the state capital there from Denver.

The frontier gambler, Poker Alice, lived for a time in Georgetown and in several other Colorado communities where she was considered an expert player and dealer.{{cite web| url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-pokeralice.html| title=Kathy Weiser, "Poker Alice - Famous Frontier Gambler"| publisher=legendsofamerica.com| access-date=May 10, 2012}}

Following the collapse of the Silver Boom, the town population dwindled. In the 1950s the town began to experience a small renaissance as an après-ski watering hole for the thousands of skiers who passed through the town on their way down from the mountains at the ski areas near Loveland Pass and Guanella Pass. Small craft shops began to set up businesses in the once decrepit 19th century storefronts. By the late 1960s, the establishment of a museum in one of the historic hotels had made the town a popular summer tourist destination where visitors could relive the experience of walking among structures from the mining boom. Furthermore, as the front range ski areas grow in popularity, the town makes for a good midway-stop for the returning skiers coming through I-70. More winter sports traffic comes from the nearby Otter Mountain, and in the winter the town's hotels house many skiers.

The made-for-TV movie The Christmas Gift, starring John Denver, was filmed in Georgetown in 1986. The film is about a widower and his daughter who go to Georgetown for vacation and business and find the true meaning of Christmas.

Other movies filmed at least partly in Georgetown include the made-for-TV movies "Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo, and "Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin Deep Scandal"; and the feature film "Switchback" with Danny Glover and Dennis Quaid; and at least one scene from "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox", with Goldie Hawn and George Segal. In addition, it has been the site for the filming of various commercials, and some music videos, including part of John Tesh's "A Romantic Christmas."Personal knowledge from living there.

The Sonic Bloom Music Festival previously took place every June in Georgetown, but has been on hiatus since 2024.{{cite web |title=Sonic Bloom Festival | June 2014 - Colorado's Premier Electronic Music Festival |url=http://sonicbloomfestival.com/2013/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205400/http://sonicbloomfestival.com/2013/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=MFW |date=2024-04-18 |title=Music Festivals Cancelled So Far In 2024 {{!}} MFW |url=https://www.musicfestivalwizard.com/music-festivals-cancelled-so-far-in-2024/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240420130446/https://www.musicfestivalwizard.com/music-festivals-cancelled-so-far-in-2024/ |archive-date=2024-04-20 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=Music Festival Wizard |language=en-US}}

On February 19, 2020, a dog named Parker was sworn in as honorary mayor of Georgetown. He was unanimously elected by the town Board of Selectmen.{{Cite web |title=Big Dog Wearing Tie Becomes Mayor of Small Colorado Town |url=https://people.com/pets/parker-snow-dog-mayor-georgetown-colorado/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=People.com |language=en}}

Georgetown is located in the valley of Clear Creek. I-70 and US 6 run along the western edge of the town, with access from Exit 228. It is {{convert|45|mi}} east to Denver and {{convert|22|mi}} west across the Continental Divide to Silverthorne.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of {{convert|2.845|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.262|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.

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According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Georgetown has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

{{Weather box

|location = Georgetown, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high F = 60

|Feb record high F = 62

|Mar record high F = 68

|Apr record high F = 76

|May record high F = 83

|Jun record high F = 92

|Jul record high F = 92

|Aug record high F = 89

|Sep record high F = 86

|Oct record high F = 81

|Nov record high F = 70

|Dec record high F = 62

|Jan avg record high F = 52.0

|Feb avg record high F = 51.9

|Mar avg record high F = 61.6

|Apr avg record high F = 65.9

|May avg record high F = 73.8

|Jun avg record high F = 83.9

|Jul avg record high F = 85.5

|Aug avg record high F = 82.4

|Sep avg record high F = 79.9

|Oct avg record high F = 72.7

|Nov avg record high F = 62.3

|Dec avg record high F = 52.1

|year avg record high F = 86.4

|Jan high F = 36.4

|Feb high F = 37.7

|Mar high F = 44.5

|Apr high F = 49.8

|May high F = 59.6

|Jun high F = 71.7

|Jul high F = 77.1

|Aug high F = 74.5

|Sep high F = 68.3

|Oct high F = 56.7

|Nov high F = 44.2

|Dec high F = 36.3

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 25.9

|Feb mean F = 26.5

|Mar mean F = 32.8

|Apr mean F = 37.9

|May mean F = 47.1

|Jun mean F = 57.0

|Jul mean F = 62.9

|Aug mean F = 60.5

|Sep mean F = 53.8

|Oct mean F = 43.5

|Nov mean F = 33.0

|Dec mean F = 25.9

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 15.5

|Feb low F = 15.3

|Mar low F = 21.1

|Apr low F = 26.0

|May low F = 34.6

|Jun low F = 42.4

|Jul low F = 48.8

|Aug low F = 46.5

|Sep low F = 39.3

|Oct low F = 30.3

|Nov low F = 21.9

|Dec low F = 15.4

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -3.1

|Feb avg record low F = -5.3

|Mar avg record low F = 3.4

|Apr avg record low F = 13.2

|May avg record low F = 20.9

|Jun avg record low F = 33.1

|Jul avg record low F = 40.5

|Aug avg record low F = 37.7

|Sep avg record low F = 28.4

|Oct avg record low F = 13.6

|Nov avg record low F = 4.6

|Dec avg record low F = -5.0

|year avg record low F = -9.6

|Jan record low F = -28

|Feb record low F = -25

|Mar record low F = -15

|Apr record low F = -8

|May record low F = 7

|Jun record low F = 24

|Jul record low F = 31

|Aug record low F = 29

|Sep record low F = 8

|Oct record low F = -4

|Nov record low F = -16

|Dec record low F = -17

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.81

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.90

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.39

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.33

|May precipitation inch = 2.13

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.54

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.49

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.18

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.52

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.25

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.89

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.86

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 12.5

|Feb snow inch = 12.6

|Mar snow inch = 18.5

|Apr snow inch = 20.9

|May snow inch = 6.6

|Jun snow inch = 0.2

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 1.6

|Oct snow inch = 7.5

|Nov snow inch = 11.1

|Dec snow inch = 14.4

|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 8.5

|Feb precipitation days = 9.0

|Mar precipitation days = 10.5

|Apr precipitation days = 11.6

|May precipitation days = 10.4

|Jun precipitation days = 9.5

|Jul precipitation days = 13.4

|Aug precipitation days = 13.6

|Sep precipitation days = 9.6

|Oct precipitation days = 7.6

|Nov precipitation days = 7.3

|Dec precipitation days = 8.5

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 9.1

|Feb snow days = 9.3

|Mar snow days = 10.0

|Apr snow days = 9.2

|May snow days = 3.2

|Jun snow days = 0.1

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.5

|Oct snow days = 3.6

|Nov snow days = 7.3

|Dec snow days = 8.8

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00053261&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 (mean maxima and minima 2006–2020)

{{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

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1870= 802

|1880= 3294

|1890= 1927

|1900= 1418

|1910= 950

|1920= 703

|1930= 303

|1940= 391

|1950= 329

|1960= 307

|1970= 542

|1980= 830

|1990= 891

|2000= 1088

|2010= 1034

|2020= 1118

|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 1,088 people, 503 households, and 278 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,146.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 670 housing units at an average density of {{convert|705.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.96% White, 0.18% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.41% of the population.

There were 503 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,969, and the median income for a family was $53,333. Males had a median income of $35,952 versus $28,068 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,180. About 3.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

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{{portal|Colorado}}

• Arapaho National Forest
• Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic District
• Colorado Silver Boom
• 2013 Colorado floods

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• Historic Georgetown: Centennial Gazette 1868−1968

{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|auto=1}}

• [http://www.townofgeorgetown.us/ Town of Georgetown website]
• [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Georgetown.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Georgetown]

{{Clear Creek County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado|show}}

{{Protected Areas of Colorado}}

{{Colorado county seats}}

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Category:Towns in Clear Creek County, Colorado

Category:Towns in Colorado

Category:Colorado Mining Boom

Category:County seats in Colorado

Category:Denver metropolitan area

Category:Populated places established in 1859

Category:1859 establishments in Kansas Territory