The historic Town of Empire is a statutory town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The town was named after the "Empire State" of New York. The Town of Empire was incorporated on April 12, 1882.

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of including of water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 355 people, 163 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 179 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 94.37% White, 3.10% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.66% of the population.

There were 163 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,159, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $40,313 versus $29,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,417. About 10.5% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

thumb|General store along U.S. Highway 40 in Empire, Colorado

Points of interest

  • Peck House - Historic hotel and restaurant.
  • Hard Rock Cafe - Dating from 1934 and named for the hard rock miners that were its early customers, it predates and is not affiliated with the chain of restaurants that also call themselves the Hard Rock Cafe.

In fiction

Empire is the setting of Bonnie Nadzam's short story, titled "Empire" after the town.

See also

  • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Denver-Aurora-Greeley, CO Combined Statistical Area
  • Front Range Urban Corridor
  • List of municipalities in Colorado
  • List of populated places in Colorado
  • List of post offices in Colorado
  • Arapaho National Forest
  • Colorado Silver Boom

References

  • Ruggles, Eleanor. The West Going Heart. Norton, 1959.
  • State of Colorado
  • History Colorado
  • Town of Empire website