meeker

Meeker, Colorado

The Town of Meeker is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,242 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64, on the north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town.

History

The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Native American agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. The site of the massacre is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley east of town and is marked by a prominent sign. After the massacre and the ensuing conflict known as the Ute War, the Ute population was forced to relocate to reservations in Utah and the United States Army established a garrison on the current site of the town. The town was founded in 1883 following the removing of troops. The White River Museum in town, located just north of the Rio Blanco County Courthouse and housed in several original wooden structures of the Army garrison.

The town emerged as a regional center for hunting by the turn of the 20th century. Theodore Roosevelt once visited the town on a mountain lion hunting trip and stayed in the historic Hotel Meeker opposite the courthouse.

Geography

Meeker is located at (40.039539, -107.910709).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,242 people, 919 households, and 605 families residing in the town. The population density was 769.8 people per square mile (297.5/km²). There were 1,054 housing units at an average density of 361.9/sq mi (139.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.39% White, 0.71% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 1.92% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.73% of the population.

There were 919 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,479, and the median income for a family was $43,529. Males had a median income of $36,026 versus $18,242 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,647. About 9.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.