Colorado City ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,991 at the 2020 census.

History

Colorado City originated as a ranger camp in 1877. It grew into a cattlemen's center and has been called "the Mother City of West Texas". The town acquired a railway station and post office in 1881 and was named the county seat. In the early 1880s, it was a center for cattle shipment, with herds driven to Colorado City and loaded onto trains for shipment to the eastern markets. Its population was estimated at 6,000 in 1884–1885, but dropped to 2,500 by 1890 after a drought, and dropped further with the growth of nearby San Angelo.

The first school was conducted in a dugout in 1881 and moved to a building the next year. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, economic activity centered successively on salt mining, then farming, then oil production. By 1910, the town had a new public school, a waterworks, and an electric plant. A city hall was built by 1926.

An oil refinery began operation in 1924 and closed in 1969. Other industries included a meat-packing operation and a mobile home factory. Her body was found in 2013 in Scurry County, Texas. Her mother's boyfriend was long suspected for Hailey's death and told police she was in Scurry County, but in 2023, the prosecution dropped the case against him based on advice from the FBI.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Colorado City is situated along the Colorado River to the west and Lone Wolf Creek to the east.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Colorado City has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Colorado City had a population of 3,991, with 1,542 households and 728 families, and the median age was 37.1 years.

About 27.7% of residents were under 18 and 16.9% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census

! Race !! Number !! Percentage

|-

| White || 2,561 || 64.2%

|-

| Black or African American || 238 || 6.0%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 62 || 1.6%

|-

| Asian || 43 || 1.1%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0%

|-

| Some other race || 536 || 13.4%

|-

| Two or more races || 551 || 13.8%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,815 || 45.5%

|}

2010 census

As of the census

  • George H. Mahon, U.S. Representative; was raised in Mitchell County and is honored with a statue in front of the courthouse
  • Don Maynard, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, graduated from Colorado High School

See also

thumb|City hall

  • Champion Creek Reservoir

References

  • Colorado City – Official website