Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park is a Rocky Mountain resort located in Larimer County, Colorado on the Big Thompson River. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,413. The town is named after Joel Estes, the first settler in 1859. The town is now a popular summer resort and headquarters to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

The town includes The Stanley Hotel. Once an fine example of Edwardian opulence, the 1906 building had Stephen King as one of its many guests, inspiring him to write the novel The Shining which later became a movie classic. Estes Park is also recognized as the birthplace of the American Credit Union movement.

Trail Ridge Road the highest continuous highway in the United States runs from Estes Park westward, reaching Grand Lake over the continental divide.

Geography

Estes Park sits at an elevation of 7,522 feet on the front range of the Rocky Mountains at the eastern entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Its location is 40°22'22" North, 105°31'9" West (40.372856, -105.519136)¹. Its north, south and east extremities border the Roosevelt National Forest

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.2 km² (5.9 mi²). 15.1 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.85% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 5,413 people, 2,541 households, and 1,565 families residing in the town. The population density is 359.1/km² (929.5/mi²). There are 3,323 housing units at an average density of 220.4/km² (570.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.14% White, 0.31% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.07% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 5.56% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,541 households out of which 20.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% are married couples living together, 6.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are non-families. 31.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.11 and the average family size is 2.61.

In the town the population is spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 45 years. For every 100 females there are 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $43,262, and the median income for a family is $55,667. Males have a median income of $31,573 versus $20,767 for females. The per capita income for the town is $30,499. 4.5% of the population and 3.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.6% are under the age of 18 and 0.8% are 65 or older.