Central City is the county seat of Gilpin County, Colorado. The population was 515 at the 2000 census. During the Colorado Gold Rush gold in paying quantities was discovered and by 1860 the population was 60,000. Many thousands of ethnic Chinese lived in Central City during the early days working the placer deposits of Gregory Gulch. They were forbidden work in the underground mines. Most of them are believed to have returned to China after making their stake.

In its heyday to mark its success Central City commissioned an opera house from the noted Colorado architect Robert Saur Roeschlaub. The Central City Opera House continues to provide entertainment during the summer. Another Central City attaction is the Teller House with its Face on the Barroom Floor.

In time the mines played out and the population of Central City and its sister city Blackhawk fell to a few hundred by the 1950s. Casino gambling has been introduced recently with more success in Blackhawk than in Central City. In 2004 Central City completed a four-lane, 8.4-mile parkway from Interstate 70 to Central City, allowing visitors to bypass Blackhawk ^*.

Geography

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Central City is located at (39.802631, -105.516782).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

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As of the census of 2000, there were 515 people, 261 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 105.2/km² (273.0/mi²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 80.5/km² (208.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 2.52% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 261 households out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.3% were non-families. 43.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city the population was spread out with 16.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 115.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,921, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $25,446 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,465. About 7.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

External links

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• Early Photos of Central City
• Central City Boom and Bust
• Main Street Central - Central City's local merchants' association
• Official site - City of Central's Official Site
• Official site - City's site

Colorado Mining Boom | Towns in Colorado | Gilpin County, Colorado