De Beque, Colorado

The Town of De Beque is a Statutory Town in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 504 at the 2010 census.[7] The town consists of a small grid, including a historic downtown featuring a town hall, a tavern, and several commercial businesses in historic structures. The surrounding streets include houses, several churches, and a school.

Town of De Beque, Colorado
Statutory Town
Minter Avenue in De Beque, March, 2013.
Location of De Beque in Mesa County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 39°20′02″N 108°12′54″W
Country United States
State State of Colorado
CountyMesa County[1]
Settled1880
IncorporatedJanuary 18, 1890[2]
Government
 • TypeStatutory Town[1]
 • MayorWayne Klahn[3]
 • Mayor Pro TemRita Baker[3]
Area
 • Total2.00 sq mi (5.18 km2)
 • Land1.97 sq mi (5.10 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation4,951 ft (1,509 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total504
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
518
 • Density263.08/sq mi (101.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
81630
Area code(s)970
FIPS code08-19355
GNIS feature ID0174334
WebsiteTown of DeBeque, Colorado

History

The town is located in a region historically occupied by the Ute people.[8] White settlers arrived in the region in 1880.[8]

The town is named after Dr. W.A.E. de Beque[9] who explored the area with several companions in 1884 while looking for a suitable location for a ranch.

The town was historically a location where wild horses, prevalent in the surrounding lands, were rounded up and sold.[10] The history of the town is commemorated with a mustang statue near the town hall. In August 2001, the Town Board of Trustees designated De Beque as the only Wild Horse Sanctuary City in the West.[11] The town now undertakes projects in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, as well as private organizations, to protect the remaining wild horses and burros in the area. Such measures include the construction of a public corral for the care of injured and sick mustangs and burros awaiting adoption.[10]

On April 1, 2014, De Beque became the first incorporated town in Mesa County to approve the retail sale of recreational marijuana.[12]

Geography

The town sits along the north side of the Colorado River upstream from De Beque Canyon in a small ranching valley approximately 25 miles (40 km) northeast and upstream from Grand Junction. It is located across the river from Interstate 70, on a small hill overlooking the river. The southwest edge of the Roan Cliffs overlook the town from the northeast. Much of the surrounding area in the mountains is controlled by the Bureau of Land Management.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), of which 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 11.11%, is water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
190083—
191014979.5%
192029296.0%
193034718.8%
1940280−19.3%
1950253−9.6%
1960172−32.0%
1970155−9.9%
198027980.0%
1990257−7.9%
200045175.5%
201050411.8%
2019 (est.)518[6]2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 451 people, 167 households, and 130 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,411.7 people per square mile (544.2/km2). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 588.5 per square mile (226.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.45% White, 0.67% Native American, 0.89% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.

There were 167 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,632, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,181. About 6.2% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Art and Culture

Wild Horse Days

The town has hosted "Wild Horse Day" every August since 2000. The festival includes a rodeo and parade.

The festival was originally begun to promote awareness to the wild horse population and raise funds for a corral and rodeo grounds.[15]

See also
  • List of cities and towns in Colorado

References
  1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  2. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  3. "BOARD OF TRUSTEES". Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): De Beque town, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  8. "History". Town of De Beque, Colorado. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  9. Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 17.
  10. "The Wild Horses of Ute Country". News From Indian Country. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  11. "DE BEQUE WILD HORSE DAYS". Town of De Beque, Colorado. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  12. The Daily Sentinel, Tuesday, April 1 De Beque approves retail pot; Fruita declines
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. "Wild Horse Days Come To An End Organizers Have Decided To Cancel The Event". KJCT8.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
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