Granby, Colorado

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Granby, Colorado
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settlement_type = Town
motto = The heart of something grand


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map_caption = Location in Grand County and the state of Colorado


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = USA
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Colorado
subdivision_type2 = Countycite web | url = http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html | title = Active Colorado Municipalities | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs | accessdate = 2007-09-01]
subdivision_name2 = Grand
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government_type = Statutory Town
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1904
established_title2 = Incorporated (town)
established_date2 = December 11, 1905cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = 2004-12-01 | accessdate = 2007-09-02]
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area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 = 4.6
area_land_km2 = 4.6
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.8
area_land_sq_mi = 1.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 1525
population_density_km2 = 331.5
population_density_sq_mi = 847.2
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd = 40 |latm = 5 |lats = 11 |latNS = N
longd = 105 |longm = 56 |longs = 11 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 2428
elevation_ft = 7935
postal_code_type = ZIP codecite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | title = ZIP Code Lookup| format = JavaScript/HTML | publisher = United States Postal Service | accessdate = September 24 | accessyear = 2007]
postal_code = 80446
area_code = 970
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 08-31605
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0178402
website =
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The Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about 85 miles (136.8 km) west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1525.

The town was founded in 1904 along the route of the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway, and incorporated one year later. It was named after Granby Hillyer, a Denver lawyer who later served as the United States Attorney for that city's district.

Geography

Granby is 7935 feet above sea level. It is located at coor dms|40|5|11|N|105|56|11|W (40.086396, -105.936487)GR|1, in an area subject to average annual rainfall of 12¼ inches and annual snowfall of more than 128 inches.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), none of which is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there are 1525 people in the town, organized into 579 households and 390 families. The population density is 856.2 people per square mile (330.8/km²). There are 628 housing units at an average density of 352.6/sq mi (136.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.26% White, 0.46% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 3.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 579 households out of which 37.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% are married couples living together, 7.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% are non-families. 21.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.59 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the town the population is spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $46,667, and the median income for a family is $55,250. Males have a median income of $35,455 versus $24,417 for females. The per-capita income for the town is $21,224. 5.8% of the population and 4.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

In the news

On June 4, 2004, Marvin Heemeyer, a local businessman and skilled welder, used a 50-ton Komatsu D335A bulldozer he had custom armor-plated (often dubbed by locals and the media as "The Kill Dozer") to damage or destroy several buildings in the town, including its town hall, the public library, a bank, a concrete batch plant, and a house owned by the town's former mayor, resulting in over $7 million in damage. Heemeyer was reportedly upset over a zoning dispute which he believed led to the closure of his muffler shop; he targeted buildings owned by those involved in his dispute. Nobody was injured in the incident, though Heemeyer later committed suicide.

Currently the county is facing an epidemic of beetles that have destroyed most of theconifer forests there. [ [http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05528.html Mountain Pine Beetle ] ]

Local history

Grand County, Colorado Granby and Grand Lake (Colorado) are well known for their charismatic Locals. Many familieshave been residents since before county lines were established and the country fully surveyed. Early families established themselves under the old Homestead Act giving away land to citizens who would in turn inhabit and improve upon the territory.

Families have contended for prime ranch land since the turn of the century. Families like the Huddlers / Cooks, original homesteaders whose now waning ranch once included approximately 10,000 acres (40 km²) of cattle land and Hay are typical characters.

Infamous Locals

Locals of Granby and its surrounds are often distinguished by their eccentricity and flare for the dramatic such a distinguished list include but are not limited to;
* Jon Cook - Singer / Songwriter / Saddletramp & Local Legend
* Marvin Heemeyer - Known for building his own bulldozer to settle city disputes

Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Granby, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.

ee also

*State of Colorado
**Colorado cities and towns
***Colorado municipalities
**Colorado counties
***Grand County, Colorado
*United States Forest Service
**Arapaho National Forest
**Arapaho National Recreation Area
*United States Park Service
**Rocky Mountain National Park

References

External links

* [http://www.granbychamber.com/govt.html Town of Granby website]
** [http://www.dot.state.co.us/App_DTD_DataAccess/Downloads/CityMaps/Granby.pdf CDOT map of the Town of Granby]
* [http://www.granbychamber.com/ Greater Granby] Chamber of Commerce
* [http://www.skyhidailynews.com/ Sky-Hi News, Granby's local newspaper]
* [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hawp:@field(SUBJ+@band(Granby+)) Photographs from the Denver Public Library] , now kept at the Library of Congress