Rocky Ford, Colorado

Rocky Ford, Colorado
Statutory city[1]
Rocky Ford City Hall (2010)
Location within Otero County and Colorado
Rocky Ford Location within United States
Coordinates: 38°3′4″N 103°43′17″W
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Otero County[2]
City	Rocky Ford[1]
Incorporated	August 19, 1887[3]
Government
• Type	Statutory City[1]
• Mayor	Duane Gurulé[4]
Area [5]
• Total	1.69 sq mi (4.38 km^2)
• Land	1.68 sq mi (4.35 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km^2)
Elevation [6]	4,180 ft (1,274 m)
Population  (2020)[7]
• Total	3,876
• Density	2,300/sq mi (880/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code[8]	81067
Area code	719
FIPS code	08-65190
GNIS feature[6]	0195481
Website	cityofrockyfordco.gov

Rocky Ford is a statutory city located in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 3,876 at the 2020 census.^[7]

History

The community was named for a rocky ford across the Arkansas River near the original town site.^[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) is land and 0.58% is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	47		—
1890	468		895.7%
1900	2,018		331.2%
1910	3,230		60.1%
1920	3,746		16.0%
1930	3,426		−8.5%
1940	3,493		2.0%
1950	4,087		17.0%
1960	4,929		20.6%
1970	4,859		−1.4%
1980	4,804		−1.1%
1990	4,162		−13.4%
2000	4,286		3.0%
2010	3,957		−7.7%
2020	3,876		−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 4,286 people, 1,655 households, and 1,136 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,521.8 inhabitants per square mile (973.7/km²). There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of 1,089.7 per square mile (420.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.42% White, 0.40% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 21.86% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 57.14% of the population.

There were 1,655 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,359, and the median income for a family was $29,470. Males had a median income of $26,271 versus $17,485 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,742. About 14.6% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Rocky Ford is noted for its watermelon, cantaloupe and agriculture due to its soil content and fluctuation in temperatures providing great growing conditions.^[11]

Transportation

Rocky Ford is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is along the Lamar-Pueblo-Colorado Springs Outrider line.^[12]

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Rocky Ford include:

• Lewis Babcock (1943- ), judge
• Marvin Cordova, Jr. (1985- ), light welterweight boxer^[13]
• Paul Gebhard (1917–2015), anthropologist, sexologist^[14]
• Blaine Gibson (1918–2015), Disney sculptor (The Hall of Presidents, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean) and animator^[15][16]
• Earl T. Newbry (1900–1995), Oregon Secretary of State^[17]
• Manuel T. Pacheco (1941- ), university president^[18]
• George W. Swink (1836–1910), land developer, fruit grower^[19]
• Robert Swink (1918–2000), film editor
• John D. Vanderhoof (1922–2013), 37th governor of Colorado^[20]

See also

• List of municipalities in Colorado

References

1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
2. "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
3. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
4. "City Council". The City of Rocky Ford. 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
5. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
6. "U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Domestic Names". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
7. United States Census Bureau. "Rocky Ford city; Colorado". Retrieved April 21, 2023.
8. "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
9. Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 43.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "Colorado more than mountains". Boca Raton News. November 6, 1983. p. 2. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
12. "Bustang Schedule". RideBustang. CDOT.
13. "Marvin Cordova Jr". BoxRec. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
14. Roberts, Sam (July 22, 2015). "Paul Gebhard, Sex Researcher Who Worked With Kinsey, Dies at 98". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
15. Colker, David (July 8, 2015). "Blaine Gibson dies at 97; prominent sculptor, animator at Disney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
16. Weber, Bruce (July 11, 2015). "Blaine Gibson, Sculptor of Figures in Disney Parks, Dies at 97". New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
17. "Oregon Secretary of State Agency History, page 15". Oregon Blue Book. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
18. "Manuel Trinidad Pacheco". University of Arizona. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
19. "Our History". Rocky Ford Growers Association. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
20. "Former Colorado Gov. Vanderhoof dies at 91". The Denver Post. AP. September 23, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2016.

External links

• Official website
• CDOT map of the City of Rocky Ford