Page Contents for Crestone, Colorado

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Colorado state capital is Denver.
The population of Crestone is approximately 39 (1990), 127 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 52 (1990), 66 (2010).
The amount of land area in Crestone is 0.65 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Crestone to Washington DC is 1628 miles.
The distance to the Colorado state capital is 130 miles. (as the crow flies)
Crestone is positioned 37.99 degrees north of the equator and 105.69 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Crestone elevation is 7,923 feet above sea level.

Location

at the base of Kit Carson Mountain in the eastern San Luis Valley about 40 miles north of Alamosa.
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History & History Related Items

The area was originally part of the large land grant given to Luis Maria Baca in the 1600's. The Baca Grant was purchased and subdivided in 1971 by the Arizona-Colorado Land & Cattle Company. Utilities were installed and roads were built for thousands of lots. By 1979, the developer became disillusioned by poor sales and gave up on further sales. However, Maurice STrong, a principal shareholder, came to visit the property and inspired by what he saw. He then offered up portions of the land to build spiritual centers which did begin to be built. Though much of the area is for sale at this time, there are a number of spiritual centers still operated by various faiths. Much of the rest of the grant is now part of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the Rio Grande National Forest and the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. During the late 1800's, gold and silver fever ran rampant in this area. Crestone grew up in one of the areas that actually did produce ore. The town was platted in 1880 by George Adams, the owner of the Baca Grant. A short lived stamp mill was built, but the ore ran out too soon. By 1900, a railroad spur was built from Moffat to Crestone and then further south. The build, Adams, hoped to connect with all the mines but there wasn't enough ore to keep the line going. The area now houses a number of spiritual centers. The town has few business and lodgings and a golf course at Baca Grande.
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The incorporation of Crestone

24 January 1902

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Crestone

Miscellany

The population of Crestone was:
1990 - 39
2000
2007 - 70

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 52 2000 - Population Density:
2007 - 359 persons per square mile

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Median Household Income:
2000 -
2007 - $ 42,575

Median House Value:
2000 -
2007 - $ 142,862