The Town of Dinosaur is a Statutory Town located in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 339 at the 2010 census.[5]
The town of Dinosaur was originally named Artesia; the current name was adopted in 1966, to capitalize on the town's proximity to Dinosaur National Monument.[6] The monument headquarters is located just east of the town on U.S. Highway 40.
Geography[]
Dinosaur is located at
40°14′30″N 109°0′31″W (40.241560, -109.008747).[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.77 square miles (2.0 km2), all of it land.[5]
Many streets in the town are named after dinosaurs, including Cletisaurus Circle, Tyrannosaurus Trail, and Antrodemus Alley.
Demographics[]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 320 people, 124 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was 400.9 people per square mile (154.0/km²). There were 156 housing units at an average density of 196.1 per square mile (75.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.43% White, 0.31% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.
There were 124 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $43,500 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,904. About 18.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Historical Places[]
Near Dinosaur are the following sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places:[10]
Prehistoric sites
- Castle Park Archeological District, a prehistoric residential site with inhabitation during 1500 - 1000 BC and again from AD 1000 - 1899 by the Prehistoric Fremont culture, Ute and Shoshone people
- Mantle's Cave, a prehistoric Fremont culture residential site from 499 BC - AD 1749
Historic sites in the Dinosaur National Monument
- Denis Julien Inscription
- Rial Chew Ranch Complex
- Upper Wade and Curtis Cabin