Eldora, Colorado

Eldora (pronounced el-DOH-ruh), previously known as "Eldorado" then "El-Dora", then Eldora or Camp Eldorado, and still called Happy Valley, is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Eldora CDP was 140 at the United States Census 2020. A one-time gold camp, Eldora was a shipping point for the Caribou silver mine in nearby Nederland, CO. At present, Eldora is characterized by small cabins, a sprinkling of vacation homes, and two long-shuttered mercantiles.

Points of interest near Eldora include the Eldora Mountain Resort, Eldora Historic District, and Indian Peaks Wilderness. The area is home to an abundance of wilderness and wildlife, including animals such as mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, red foxes, mule deer, elk, bobcats, and much more.

Eldora receives a heavy annual snowfall of 300 inches each winter.

Etymology

Eldora was originally named Happy Valley in the 1890s for the discovery of the Happy Valley Placer Mine by John J. Kemp and seven city associates. Eldorado or Eldorado Camp. But, as frequently happened at the time, the U.S. Postal Service mistakenly delivered their mail to towns by the same name in other U.S. states, particularly to El Dorado, CA, creating havoc by delaying payroll checks and important papers. Consequently, the U.S. Post Service changed the conflicting name by dropping the last syllable “do” from Colorado's Eldorado. Eldora was originally built as a mining town. Although prospectors had been poking around in Eldora since the early 1850s, it was not until 1875 that enough gold was discovered to open a mine in Eldora. The primary decision to officially establish a town in the 1880s was in part an effort to open up further mining area, and in part an attempt at a through route into Middle Park and Western Colorado. Eldora boomed and prospered during the 1890s, and at one point, Eldora was home to as many as 1300–1500 people in the late 1890s. The Eldora, Colorado, post office operated from February 13, 1897, until May 19, 1967. The Nederland, Colorado, post office (ZIP code 80466) now serves the area. Despite its intensity of gold, silver and tungsten mining, Eldora's economic boom was brief. It peaked at the turn of the century, but experienced a devastating wildfire in 1899. With much of its timber lost, lumber that was vital to the mining construction was in short supply. The 21st century has experienced renewed interest in Eldora mining, with hopes of reopening the Mogul Tunnel Mine on Spencer Mountain.

Geography

Eldora is a small village located in the southwestern parts of Boulder County, Colorado. Eldora is located within the Roosevelt National Forest, at the base of Ute Mountains in the Middle Boulder Creek valley. It is situated immediately above the Colorado banana belt. The nearest town is Nederland, Colorado, four miles east of Eldora. of 2000, there were 170 people, 89 households, and 42 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 245 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.24% White, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.88% of the population.

There were 89 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.7% were non-families. 42.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 15.3% under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 50.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 142.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,875, and the median income for a family was $55,625. Males had a median income of $41,563 versus $29,583 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,191. None of the families and 8.6% of the population were living below the poverty line.

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The United States Census Bureau initially defined the for the

Attractions

Eldora Mountain Resort
Indian Peaks Wilderness
Roosevelt National Forest

Gallery

View of Eldora, CO.JPG|View of the densely forested areas surrounding Eldora Lodge at Wondervu.

Eldora, Colorado.jpg|View of the densely forested and sparsely populated Eldora.

Eldora Mountain Resort view from the parking.jpg|Eldora Mountain Resort and Challenge Mountain.

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References

External links

State of Colorado
History Colorado
Eldora Mountain Resort
Boulder County website
Indian Peaks Wilderness
Roosevelt National Forest website