Dotsero is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Edwards, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Dotsero CDP was 1,172 at the United States Census 2020. After completion the old route over Tennessee pass remained in use as a secondary route, but has been dormant since 1997.
Ferdinand Hayden published an extensive survey of central and southwest Colorado in 1877, and used the location of the town of Dotsero as his "Dot Zero" (reference point) for his survey maps. The Dotsero, Colorado, post office operated from June 29, 1883, until February 29, 1948. The Gypsum, Colorado, post office (ZIP code 81637) now serves the area. The volcano is still classified as active by the USGS and is the only active volcano within Colorado.
The main industry at Dotsero for years consisted of making cinderblocks from the volcano.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Dotsero had a population of 1,172. The median age was 29.1 years. 33.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 3.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 114.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 120.7 males age 18 and over.
94.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 327 households in Dotsero, of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 65.1% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 12.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 8.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.