Crestone, Colorado

Town of Crestone, Colorado
—  Town  —
Location in Saguache County and the state of Colorado
Coordinates: 37°59′45″N 105°41′59″W / 37.99583°N 105.69972°W / 37.99583; -105.69972
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Saguache County[1]
Incorporated	January 24, 1902[2]
Government
- Type	Statutory Town[1]
- Mayor	Ralph Abrams
- City Manager	Akia Tanara
Area
- Total	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
- Land	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
- Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation[3]	7,923 ft (2,415 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	73
- Density	243.3/sq mi (104.3/km2)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP Code[4]	81131
Area code(s)	719
FIPS code	08-18420
GNIS feature ID	0192409
Highways	Take County Road T 12 miles east from State Highway 17 at Moffat

Crestone is a statutory town in Saguache County in Southwestern Colorado, United States. The population was 73 at the 2000 census. It is a small village at the foot of the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range, in the northern part of the San Luis Valley. Crestone was a small mining town, but little paying ore was discovered. In the 1970s, a large land development, the Baca Grande, was established to the south and west and several hundred homes have been built.

The Crestone area, which includes the Baca Grande and Moffat, Colorado, is a spiritual and new age center with several world religions represented, including: a Hindu temple, a Zen center, a co-ed Carmelite monastery, several Tibetan centers, and miscellaneous New Age happenings.

Crestone is easily accessible to visitors, a National Forest Service campground is about 3/4 of a mile north of town,^[5] and other lodging is available, including several bed and breakfasts. Activities in the area include camping, fishing, hiking, climbing, as well as spiritual explorations.

Crestone is named for the 14,000-foot peaks that lie just east of the town: Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle. The Crestones, as they are known collectively, in turn, took their name from the Spanish word crestón, which, according to Walter Borneman and Lyndon Lampert's book A Climbing Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners, means: “the top of a cock’s comb”; “the crest of a helmet”; or, in miners’ jargon, “an outcropping of ore”.

History

Chatting on Galena Avenue

The first settlement in the Crestone area occurred after the American Civil War with the granting of the Luis Maria Baca Grant No. 4 to the heirs of the original Baca Grant at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Title to the grant at Las Vegas was clouded by a second grant of the same land. The Baca heirs were offered alternative lands from the public lands of the United States. The tract selected near Crestone was 12.5 miles (20.1 km) on a side and was located to the south of the town of Crestone. The Bacas deeded the land to their attorney, but it soon passed by tax sale to a third party. The ranch headquarters were on Crestone Creek to the southwest of Crestone. The Baca Grant was one of the first large tracts of land to be fenced in the West and in its heyday was the home of prize Hereford cattle.

In addition to ranching there was some mining in the area to the east and south of Crestone of small shallow iron oxide copper gold ore deposits. In 1880 the town of Crestone was platted by George Adams, the owner of the Baca Grant. In 1900, with the help of Eastern investors, George Adams ignited a minor boom, reopening one of the more promising gold mines and building a railroad spur to the town and the mines along the Range south of town. However, lacking good ore, the boom was short-lived. A long period of decline followed.

By 1948 Crestone had declined to its post-war population of 40 souls, mostly retired folks and cowboys who worked on the Grant, as the Baca Grant was called. Many of the old cabins were used as vacation homes. By 1971 the Baca Grant came into the ownership of a corporation which subdivided a portion of the Grant, creating the Baca Grande, a subdivision originally platted for about 10,000 lots. At great expense, underground utilities were installed and roads built. However, sales lagged and by 1979 the development was considered a liability by the corporation. Maurice Strong, owner of a controlling interest and his fiancée Hanne Marstrand visited the development and "fell in love with it." The Strongs were inspired to create a world spiritual center and began granting parcels of land to traditional spiritual organizations.

The population gradually began to increase and by 2006 several hundred homes had been built and a number of small spiritual communities had become established. As the Baca Grande contained no provision for business uses, Crestone became the business center of the community and having enacted a small sales tax was in a position to finance further improvements.

Passive solar building near Crestone

Geography

Crestone is located near the 38th parallel, in the San Luis Valley in south central Colorado. It is platted on a quarter section of land (160 acres; 0.6 km²) on the alluvial fan of North Crestone Creek. Much of the land near the creek, the main part of town, is well watered in normal times, but during a prolonged drought the creek may dry up and underground water levels may fall.

In more technical terms, Crestone is located at 37°59′45″N 105°41′59″W / 37.99583°N 105.69972°W / 37.99583; -105.69972 (37.995792, -105.699757)^[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Census data is for the Town of Crestone; most people in the Crestone area live in the Baca Grande, a large land development which lies to the south and west of the town.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1990	39		—
2000	73		87.2%
Est. 2009	109		49.3%

The following is derived from the US census and covers only the town itself, thus giving a misleading idea of the area. About half of the homes in Crestone itself are used only on a seasonal basis. The Crestone community, is much larger, consisting also of several hundred homes in the Baca Grande subdivision, the surrounding rural area, and the small town of Moffat, Colorado which hosts one of the local schools. (There is also a charter school)

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 73 people, 45 households, and 18 families residing in the town. The population density was 290.8 people per square mile (112.7/km²). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 314.7 per square mile (122.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.89% White, 4.11% from other races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 45 households out of which 8.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.0% don't fit into the above categories. 48.9% 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 1.62 and the average family size was 2.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 8.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 45.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $22,813 versus $27,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,291. There were 18.8% of families and 19.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Pop culture

Music Colorado-based singer-songwriter Jason Wilder was selected as a finalist in Great Britain's 2007 UK Song Contest for a song he wrote about the town of Crestone.

Gallery

• 

  Little Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Mission

• 

  Crestone post office

• 

  Kit Carson Mountain from Crestone in November

• 

  Galena Avenue about 1910

• 

  Chorten near Crestone

• 

  Creative Trade, a gift shop

• 

  The Lotus Cafe

• 

  The Bliss

• 

  Little Pearl Park, a pocket park

• 

  Saturday market in late September

• 

  Golden Avenue west from Golden and Alder

• 

  The Laughing Buddha

• 

  Crestone Mercantile, an Affiliated Food Stores member store

• 

  Curt's Store, a health food store

• 

  A letter mailed from Crestone in 1911

• 

  Tree house near the creek. Curt's cow is on top of the tree house.

• 

  Clothing bins in the Crestone Free Box

Spiritual centers

The deity Haidakhandeshwari in the temple of the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram near Crestone

Crestone has become internationally known as a locus for a large number of many different religious and spiritual traditions. Accommodation of spiritual pilgrims and eco-tourists is now the biggest industry in Crestone. Crestone's development as a spiritual center was initiated by Maurice Strong, a multimillionaire businessman and United Nations Undersecretary, and his wife, Hanne Marstrand Strong. They purchased a great deal of land in the 1970s and established the Manitou Foundation and Manitou Institute, which, according to its website, "provides and grants and some financial support in Crestone/Baca, Colorado, to qualified religious and spiritual projects." Many of the groups in the area were made possible by this support.

A number of spiritual leaders have remarked upon what they perceive as special qualities of the area. The name of the nearby Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains are one indication of the early impression the area made on settlers. Thrangu Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist lama, has stated that in part because Crestone is near the Continental Divide with waters that flow in both directions, it is a particularly auspicious place. According to Buddhist scholar Reginald Ray, another high-ranking Tibetan Buddhist lama, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, told him "Crestone is one of the two or three places on Planet Earth best suited for retreat practice."

The chart below details some of the centers that have been established in Crestone.

Religion	Organization	Sect
Christian	The Spiritual Life Institute and Nada Hermitage Retreat Center	Roman Catholic (Carmelite)
Buddhist (Zen)	Crestone Mountain Zen Center founded by Zentatsu Richard Baker	Sōtō
Buddhist (Tibetan)	Chamma Ling founded by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche	Bön
	Dharma Ocean Retreat Center founded by Reginald Ray	Karma Kagyu
	Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang founded by H.H. the 16th Karmapa	Karma Kagyu
	Mangala Shri Bhuti founded by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche	Nyingma
	Vajra Vidya founded by Thrangu Rinpoche	Karma Kagyu
	Yeshe Khorlo founded by Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche	Nyingma
	Yeshe Rangsal Retreat Center founded by Tsokyni Rinpoche	Drukpa Kagyu
Hindu	Haidakhandi Universal Ashram	Haidakhan Babaji
	Sri Aurobindo Learning Center	Sri Aurobindo
	Temple of Consciousness Ashram	Humanity in Unity
Other	The Shumei International Institute in Crestone Colorado	Shumei International Institute

Spiritual centers external links

• Chamma Ling
• Crestone Mountain Zen Center
• Dharma Ocean
• Haidakhandi Universal Ashram
• Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang
• Little Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Mission
• Mangala Shri Bhuti
• The Shumei International Institute in Crestone Colorado
• The Spiritual Life Institute and Nada Hermitage Retreat Center
• Sri Aurobindo Learning Center
• Temple of Consciousness Ashram
• Vajra Vidya Retreat Center
• Yeshe Khorlo
• Yeshe Rangsal Retreat Center

Volunteer and community services

Emergency services for the town of Crestone and the Baca Grande are provided by the Crestone Volunteer Fire Dept. and the Baca-Crestone Ambulance Service. ^[8]

The Crestone End of Life Project provides open-air cremation on a non-denominational basis. Cost is modest but is available only to the 1,000 or so people who live in the local community.^[9]

Fairs and markets

The Annual San Luis Valley Energy Fair is held in Crestone's town parks over Labor Day weekend each year. The fair features ideas and products that relate to environmental sustainability such as solar power and straw bale construction as well as booths offering food and local products. Food and local products are offered regularly at the Saturday Market which happens in the middle of town on Silver Avenue every Saturday during the summer.^[10] Crestone has a free box which is enthusiastically supported by the community.^[11]

Wildlife

Bear scat showing consumption of garbage bags in Crestone's business district

Crestone has historically been a deer park; Mule deer are commonly seen grazing in yards in town. Black bears are also common, but usually only at night when they raid apple trees and the dumpsters at the cafes and stores in downtown Crestone. In 2011 a bear with two cubs was frequently seen during the day. This bear, which was generally well-behaved other than raiding trash, was killed by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources following a bear attack on a tethered goat. Local sympathizers complained bitterly the wrong bear had been killed, receiving extensive coverage through Channel 9 in Denver which was distributed nationally by the Associated Press,^[12] prompting an investigation of the incident by the Division of Parks and Wildlife and possible re-evaluation of management of bears in mixed rural-urban communities such as Crestone.^[13]

Skiing

Skiing is within driving distance of Crestone at Wolf Creek ski area, about 75 miles, and Monarch Ski Area, about 60 miles. The local terrain is too steep and snow is not dependable.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html. Retrieved 2007-09-02. 
3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp. Retrieved September 6, 2007. 
5. ^ "North Crestone Creek Campground". National Forest Service. http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTn0AjAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEADoWIdk!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMjAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110209&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=FSE_003741&recid=29388&ttype=recarea&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&pname=Rio+Grande+National+Forest+-+North+Crestone+Creek+Campground. Retrieved May 16, 2011. "The campground stretches 0.7 miles up a mountain along North Crestone Creek. It is rustic with camping sites nestled among Aspen, juniper, fir and other riparian-loving trees. Because the sites are so far apart each has a feeling of secluded wilderness camping with few of the inconveniences. The campground is convenient to a public golf course and the interesting village of Crestone." 
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
8. ^ The Baca Grande Property Owner's Association. "Fire". http://www.bacapoa.org/Fire~120945~14064.htm. Retrieved December 22, 2010. 
9. ^ Moreno, Ivan (January 31, 2011). "Funeral pyres an option in Colo. mountain town". The Washington Post. Associated Press. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013100570.html. Retrieved January 31, 2011. 
10. ^ "Energy fair is this weekend" article based on a press release in the Valley Courier Aug 30, 2010, accessed August 31, 2010
11. ^ "Editor’s Notes August '09 Crestone Eagle, accessed September 19, 2010
12. ^ "Crestone residents say wrong bear killed". The Denver Post. The Associated Press. August 30, 2011. http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18787171. Retrieved September 20, 2011. 
13. ^ Kevin Torres (September 19, 2011). "Parks & Wildlife meets with residents over bear's death". Channel 9 News in Denver. http://m.9news.com/localnews/article?a=220040&f=1269. Retrieved September 20, 2011. 

• Portions adapted from the Wikinfo article, "Crestone, Colorado" http://www.wikinfo.org/index.php/Crestone,_Colorado

See also

• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• Saguache County, Colorado
• State of Colorado
  • Colorado municipalities

Further reading

• Harlan, George. Postmarks and Places, either self-published or Golden Bell Press, 1976, trade paperback.
• "A Spiritual Community Takes Root: Crestone, Colorado", article by Jeffery Paine in U.S. News & World Report November 16, 2007
• For Many a Follower, Sacred Ground in Colorado New York Times, January 11, 2008
• History of the Baca Grande
• A study by Colorado College anthropology students about the potential impact of natural gas drilling on Crestone's spiritual communities: http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/AN/BACAAN326/Website/index.htm

External links

• Crestone End of Life Project
• Town of Crestone contacts
  • CDOT map of the Town of Crestone
• Crestone and Saguache County Visitor's Agency
• Saguache County Tourism Information

Coordinates: 37°59′45″N 105°41′59″W / 37.995792°N 105.699757°W / 37.995792; -105.699757