Central City, Colorado
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Central City is the county seat of Gilpin County, Colorado. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 515. During the Colorado Gold Rush gold in paying quantities was discovered and by 1860 the population was 60,000. Many thousands of ethnic Chinese lived in Central City during the early days working the placer deposits of Gregory Gulch. They were forbidden work in the underground mines. Most of them are believed to have returned to China after making their stake.
In its heyday to mark its success Central City commissioned an opera house from the noted Colorado architect Robert Saur Roeschlaub. The Central City Opera House continues to provide entertainment during the summer. Another Central City attaction is the Tauber House with its Face on the Barroom Floor.
In time the mines played out and the population of Central City and its sister city Blackhawk fell to a few hundred by the 1950s. Casino gambling has been introduced recently with more success in Blackhawk than in Central City.
Geography
COMap-doton-CentralCity.PNG
Location of Central City, Colorado
Central City is located at 39°48'9" North, 105°31'0" West (39.802631, -105.516782)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 515 people, 261 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density is 105.2/km² (273.0/mi²). There are 394 housing units at an average density of 80.5/km² (208.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 2.52% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 261 households out of which 17.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.8% are married couples living together, 8.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 61.3% are non-families. 43.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.97 and the average family size is 2.76.
In the city the population is spread out with 16.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 115.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 115.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,921, and the median income for a family is $31,667. Males have a median income of $32,917 versus $25,446 for females. The per capita income for the city is $26,465. 12.3% of the population and 7.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.3% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.