Alamosa (Colorado)
Alamosa County
08-01090
Alamosa is a small town in the southern part of the U.S. state of Colorado and at the same time the county seat of Alamosa County. The settlement is run as a Home Rule Municipality and is the economic center in the San Luis Valley. The place was raised in May 1878 and entered the city in a document on 12 August of the same year. Alamosa is the most populous settlement of the county and scored 2005 after the updates of census 8682 inhabitants.
History
Alamosa was founded in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, and quickly became an important center for the railroad. This unterhiel in Alamosa for many years to facilities for the construction and maintenance, as well as the cargo and headquarters of the remaining narrow gauge network of the railway company in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The Adams State College, a four-year public university, was founded in 1921 and offers various courses. including economics and education. The speed skating team of ASC is known internationally.
Alamosa is now a well-known destination for tourists who visit especially the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park. The city's name is derived from the Alamosa River, on which it lies. The term " Alamosa " is of Spanish origin and refers to the growing riverside poplars ( " cottonwoods " in English).
In the city there are several supermarkets and restaurants, a regional hospital and two outpatient clinics.
Geography
Alamosas geographical coordinates are 37 ° 28 ' 8 " N, 105 ° 52' 25 " W37.468889 - 105.873611 and is located at the junction of two U.S. Highways 160 and 285, as well as the Colorado State Highway 17
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 square kilometers, which accounts for all of it land.
Alamosa is located in the San Luis Valley, the highest agricultural area in the United States. This is probably the most extensive lying in a mountain valley in the world, its dry climate is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The farmers therefore focus on varieties that grow well in cold climates. The valley has its highest point about 37 miles from Alamosa located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at an altitude of about 4300 m above sea level, the area around Alamosa is about 2300 m.
Demography
At the time of the census of 2000, there were 7960 people Alamosa. The population density was 770.3 people per km ². There were 3215 housing units at an average 311.1 per km ². The population consisted of Alamosas 68.53 % White, 1.41 % African American, 2.20% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.26 % Pacific Islander, 22.36 % reported other races to belong and 4.28 % from two or more races. 46.80 % of the population to be Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Residents Alamosas distributed to 2974 households out of which 32.0% were living in children under 18 years. 40.5% married couples living together, 14.6 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5 % were non-families. 33.7 % of households were made up of individuals and someone lived in 11.0 % of all households aged 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size is 3.04.
The city population was spread out with 24.4 % under the, 21.8 % 18-24 year olds, 24.8 % 25 -44- year-old, 18.1% 45-64 year olds and 10.9 % under the age of 65 years or more. The average age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. In the over -18s accounted for 100 women 89.1 males.
The median household income in Alamosa was 25 453 U.S. dollars, and the median family income reached the level of 33 017 U.S. dollars. The average income of men was 27,100 U.S. dollars, compared to 22 671 U.S. dollars for women. The per capita income in Alamosa was 15,405 U.S. dollars. 25.0 % of the population and 18.1% of families had affected an income below the poverty line, including 30.4 % of minors and 17.0 % of those age 65 or over.
Traffic
About the Rio Grande run two roads and a railway bridge. This Alamosa is a traffic intersection in front of the border with the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Apart from private Alamosa is served by the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad. Great Lakes Airlines operates daily by three flights between Denver and Alamosa.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Garrey Carruthers, politicians, 1987-1991 Governor of New Mexico
- Michael Johnson, songwriter and guitarist
- John Salazar, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Ken Salazar, Democratic United States Senator for Colorado