Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo (pronounced /ˈpwɛbloʊ/) is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was estimated to be 104,877 in 2009, making it the 245th most populous city in the United States.Pueblo is situated at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek 103 miles (166 km) south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. The area is considered to be semi-arid with approximately 14 inches (355.60 mm) of precipitation annually; however with its location in the 'banana belt', Pueblo tends to get less snow than the other major cities in Colorado. Pueblo is the heart of the Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area and an important part of the Front Range Urban Corridor. Pueblo is one of the largest steel-producing cities in the United States[citation needed]; because of this Pueblo is referred to as the 'Steel City'. Until 1960, Pueblo was the second largest city in Colorado and was known as 'Second City.'[citation needed] The Historic Arkansas River Project (HARP) is a river walk in the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District, and shows the history of the Pueblo Flood.Pueblo is the hometown of Damon Runyon, who mentioned Pueblo in many of his newspaper columns (notably his 'Our Old Man' pieces). Pueblo is also the home of Dutch Clark, the first man from Colorado in the NFL Hall of Fame. Pueblo's largest football stadium[citation needed] is named after him. A long-standing high school rivalry takes place at this stadium, The Bell Game, which is played by The Pueblo Central Wildcats and the Pueblo Centennial Bulldogs.Pueblo is the hometown of thirty-six[citation needed] Medal of Honor recipients, the most famous of whom are - Drew D. Dix, Raymond G. Murphy, William J. Crawford, and Carl L. Sitter. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower upon presenting Raymond G. 'Jerry' Murphy with his Medal in 1953 commented, 'What is it... something in the water out there in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!' In 1993, the City Council adopted the tagline 'Home of Heroes' because it can claim more recipients per capita than any other city in the United States. On July 1, 1993, the Congressional Record recognized Pueblo as the 'Home of Heroes.' There is a memorial to the recipients of the medal at the Pueblo Convention Center. Central High School is known as the 'School of Heroes,' as it is the alma mater of two recipients, Sitter and Crawford, more than any other high school in the country.Pueblo is the home to Colorado's largest single event, the Colorado State Fair, held annually in the late summer, and the largest parade, the state fair parade, as well as an annual Chili Festival.The National Street Rod Association's Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals have been held in Pueblo for twenty-three years, largest and premier street rod event in the region.[citation needed]Pueblo's newest event is the Wild West Fest sponsored by the Professional Bull Riders. It will be held in Pueblo during the spring and the main event will be a PBR rodeo held at the state fair events center and shown all over the world. Also, Pueblo is home to the PBR team finals held at the state fair events center during the Colorado state fair and shown all over the world. In 2008 the PBR moved their corporate headquarters to Pueblo.The local airport, Pueblo Memorial Airport, lies to the east of the city. It is home to the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum (named for Fred Weisbrod, late city manager), reflecting the airport's beginnings as an Army Air Corps base in 1943.[citation needed]Pueblo is the home of the Federal Citizen Information Center, operated by the General Services Administration, and its Consumer Information Catalog. For over 35 years, public service announcements have invited Americans to write for information at 'Pueblo, Colorado, 81004' (though the official address is Post Office Box 100). In recent times GSA has incorporated Pueblo into FCIC's toll-free telephone number (1-888-8 PUEBLO) and web address (www.pueblo.gsa.gov).Vestas has announced that it will build the largest (nearly 700,000 square feet) wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in the world at Pueblo's industrial park. A number of scientific studies now list Pueblo as the state's best place for solar energy and a good place for solar companies to locate.
History
George Simpson, among other traders and trappers such as Mathew Kinkead, claimed to have helped construct the plaza that became known as El Pueblo or Fort Pueblo around 1842. George married Juana Maria Suaso and lived there for a year or two before moving; however, Simpson had no legal title to the land. The adobe structures were built with the intention of settlement and trade next to the Arkansas River, which then formed the U.S./Mexico border. About a dozen families lived there, trading with Native American tribes for hides, skins, livestock, as well as (later) cultivated plants, and liquor. Evidence of this trade, as well as other utilitarian goods, such as Native American pottery shards were found at the recently excavated site. According to accounts of residents who traded at the plaza (including that of George Simpson), the fort was raided sometime between December 23 and December 25, 1854, by Native American Utes and Jacarilla Apaches. They allegedly killed between fifteen and nineteen men, one woman, and captured two children. The trading post was abandoned after the raid, but it became important again between 1858 and 1859 during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859. The current city of Pueblo represents the consolidation of four towns: Pueblo (incorporated 1870), South Pueblo (incorporated 1873), Central Pueblo (incorporated 1882), and Bessemer (incorporated 1886). Pueblo, South Pueblo, and Central Pueblo legally consolidated as the City of Pueblo between March 9 and April 6, 1886. Bessemer joined Pueblo in 1894.The consolidated city was once a major economic and social center of Colorado, and was home to important early Colorado families the Thatchers, Ormans and Adams. Until a series of major floods culminated in the Great Flood of 1921, Pueblo was considered the 'Saddle-Making capital of the World'. Roughly one-third of Pueblo's downtown businesses were lost in this flood, along with a substantial number of buildings. Pueblo has long struggled to come to grips with this loss, and has only recently begun a resurgence in growth.The economic situation of Pueblo was further exacerbated by the decline of American steel in the 1970s and 1980s, and Pueblo still actively seeks to diversify its economic base. The City features a river walk, extensive trail system, industrial park, and revitalized downtown area to this effect.
The Steel Mill
The main industry in Pueblo for most of its history was the Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) steel mill on the south side of town. The steel-market crash of 1982 led to the decline of the company. After going through several bankruptcies, the company was acquired by Oregon Steel Mills and recently changed its name to Rocky Mountain Steel Mills. Since the acquisition, the company has been plagued with labor problems, mostly due to accusations of unfair labor practices. The problems culminated with a major strike in 1997, leading to most of the workforce being replaced.However in September 2004, both local Unions 2102 & 3267 won the strike and the unfair labor practice charges. All of the striking steel workers were returned to their jobs, and the company was forced to repay a record amount of back pay to all of the striking steel workers for the 7 years of the strike. Some have called this a significant win for labor and the many families affected by the 7 year strike.Of the many production and fabrication mills which once existed on the site, only the steel production (electric furnaces, used for scrap recycling), rail, rod, bar, and seamless tube mills are still in operation. The wire mill was sold in the late 1990s to Davis Wire, which still produces products such as fence and nails under the CF&I brand name.The facility operated blast furnaces until 1982, when the bottom fell out of the steel market. The main blast furnace structures were torn down in 1989, but due to asbestos content, many of the adjacent stoves still remain. The stoves and foundations for some of the furnaces can be easily seen from Interstate 25, which runs parallel to the plant's west boundary.Several of the administration buildings, including the main office building, dispensary, and tunnel gatehouse were purchased in 2003 by the Bessemer Historical Society. They are currently undergoing renovation. In addition to housing the historic CF&I Archives, the first phase of the project has been turned into the Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture.
Presidential visits
President Woodrow Wilson, on a speaking tour to gather support for the entry of the United States into the League of Nations, collapsed on September 25, 1919 following a speech in Pueblo. He suffered a stroke a week later which incapacitated him for the rest of his presidency.Theodore Roosevelt arrived at the Pueblo Union Depot in order to lay the first brick down for the Y.M.C.A., and also check the water resources in Colorado.President Dwight D. Eisenhower Jan. 16, 1957, toured drought-stricken regions of Pueblo County amid 20-degree weather.President George H. W. Bush (when he was Vice President) visited the Pueblo Nature Center's Raptor Center to release an American Bald Eagle that had its wings healed.Other national leaders to visit Pueblo include Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, Senator John Kerry, and Vice President Al Gore.In the 2008 presidential campaign, both major party candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, visited Pueblo as part of their campaigns. Colorado was considered a key swing state in that election, with Obama becoming the first Democratic candidate since Clinton in 1992 to win the state's electoral votes.
Pueblo State Hospital
Historically the other major employer in Pueblo was the State Hospital, which formerly served the entire state. Established in 1879 as the Colorado State Insane Asylum, it was known as the Colorado State Hospital after 1917. In 1991, the name was changed to the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP). Currently under construction is the new Forensic Medium and Maximum Security Center, a 200 bed, state-of-the-art high security facility.
Higher Education
Pueblo is home to Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo), currently the fastest growing university in the state and a regional comprehensive university. CSU-Pueblo was formerly the University of Southern Colorado. It is part of the Colorado State University System (CSU System), with about 6,000 students. On May 8, 2007, CSU-Pueblo got approval from the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System to bring back football as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The first game was played in the fall of 2008 at the Thunderbowl, a new stadium at CSU-Pueblo which holds over 12,000 people.Pueblo Community College (PCC) is a two-year, public, comprehensive community college, one of thirteen community colleges within the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). It operates three campuses serving a widely dispersed eight-county region in Southern Colorado. The main campus is located in Pueblo and serves Pueblo County. The Fremont Campus is located approximately 35 miles (56 km) west of Pueblo in Cañon City and serves Fremont and Custer Counties. The Southwest Campus, 280 miles (450 km) southwest of Pueblo, serves Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, San Juan, and Archuleta counties. PCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution as designated by the Federal Government. Approximately 5,000 students attend PCC per semester.
Pueblo City Schools
Pueblo County has thirteen high schools. Pueblo Centennial HS was founded just north of downtown on Eleventh St. in 1876, the year Colorado became a state. Centennial was rebuilt on a new site to the northwest in 1973. Pueblo Central HS was founded in Bessemer in 1882. Central's present campus on E. Orman Ave. was built in the 1920s and expanded in the early 1970s. Its original building still stands four blocks away on E. Pitkin Ave. Pueblo South HS and Pueblo East HS were built in the late 1950s to accommodate the Baby Boomers. Pueblo County HS, east of the city in Vineland, serves rural residents. Rye HS is in a foothills town southwest of Pueblo. Pueblo West HS is the newest, in the northwestern suburb of Pueblo West. The former Pueblo Catholic HS became Roncalli Middle School in the early 1970s. Other Pueblo area high schools include Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School, Southern Colorado Early College, Pueblo Technical Academy, Parkhill Christian Academy, and the Health Academy.
Geography
Pueblo is located at 38°16′1″N 104°37′13″W / 38.26694°N 104.62028°W / 38.26694; -104.62028 (38.266933, -104.620393).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.4 square miles (117.6 km2), of which, 45.1 square miles (116.8 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (0.66%) is water.Pueblo is home to Colorado State University-Pueblo, formerly known as the University of Southern Colorado.Pueblo has a steppe climate (Köppen BSk), with four distinct seasons. Winter days are usually mild, but the high does not surpass freezing on 18 days per year, and lows fall to 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on 8 nights. Snowfall usually falls in light amounts, and due to the high altitude, and the accompanying stronger sun, rarely remains on the ground for long. March is the snowiest month, and the seasonal average is 33.7 inches (86 cm); however, the median is 10 inches (25 cm) lower, and most years see no snow in October, and May or September snow is exceedingly rare. Summers are hot and dry, with normal daytime temperatures in the lower 90's to upper 90s °F (31-33 °C), and 90 °F (32.2 °C) or greater highs are seen 66 days per year, with 100 °F (37.8 °C) or greater being seen 9 times. Diurnal temperature ranges are large throughout the year, averaging 31.5 °F (17.5 °C).Precipitation is generally low, with the winter months receiving very little. Sunshine is abundant throughout the year, with an annual total of nearly 3470, or 79% of the possible total.NOTE: the snowfall data listed above areaverages.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 102,121 people, 40,307 households, and 26,118 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,265.5 people per square mile (874.6/km2). There were 43,121 housing units at an average density of 956.6/sq mi (369.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.21% White, 2.41% African American, 1.73% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 15.20% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Latinos made up 44.13% of the population. 10.1% were of German, 8.1% Italian, 6.0% American, 5.5% English and 5.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.According to the 2005 Census estimates, the city had grown to an estimated population of 104,951 and had become the ninth most populous city in the state of Colorado and the 245th most populous city in the United States.There were 40,307 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.0% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.The median income for a household in the city was $29,650, and the median income for a family was $35,620. Males had a median income of $29,702 versus $22,197 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,026. About 13.9% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Crime
The crime rate in Pueblo is higher than the national average. In 2005, Pueblo reported 13 murders, 22 rapes, 162 robberies, 489 assaults, 1,525 burglaries, 4,978 larcent thefts, and 478 auto thefts. Of the 13 murders, 7 were gang-related.Pueblo also has a large population of street gangs. Pueblo has a population of home-grown Sureños, mostly on the south side, but also on the east side of the city. Most street gangs in Pueblo are home grown Hispanic, mostly Mexican\Chicano gangs on the north, east, and south sides of Pueblo. Some of the larger and more known gangs in Pueblo are the South Side Sureños, South Side Crips, and La Viva Locos on the south side. The larger gangs on the east side are the east Side Dukes, East Side Ace, East Side Bloods, and East Side Crips. The largest gang on Pueblo's north side are the North Side Norteños.
Aviation
Pueblo Memorial Airport
Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
Notable natives and residents
Bat Masterson, Sheriff of South Pueblo.
Earl (Dutch) Clark, football player for the Detroit Lions 1934-1938 and charter member of the NFL Hall of Fame, graduated from Pueblo Central High School in 1926.
Frank E. Evans, U.S. Representative from January 3, 1965 - January 3, 1979.
Tony Falkenstein, American football fullback and quarterback, player for the NFL Green Bay Packers, Brooklyn Tigers, and Boston Yanks
Dave Feamster, ice hockey player and businessman
Kelo Henderson, actor
Amber Tozer, comedian and writer
Tony Mendes,PBRbull rider.
John Meston, scriptwriterand co-creator of theCBSWesterntelevision seriesGunsmoke
David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard, graduated from Pueblo Centennial High School in 1930.
E.J. Peaker, Actress best known for her role inHello Dollygraduated fromCentennial High Schoolin 1958.
Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary in 2007-2009, graduated from theUniversity of Southern Coloradoin 1994.
Kelly Reno, child actor fromThe Black Stallion.
Dan Rowan, ofRowan & Martin's Laugh-In, lived for a time in the McClelland Orphanage in Pueblo and graduated from Pueblo Central High School in 1940.
Damon Runyon, newspaperman and writer.
Grant Withers, Hollywood leading actor, from the silents to 1950s.
Jim Bishop, creator ofBishop Castle
Kory Sperry, American football tight end, player for the NFL Miami Dolphins; attended Pueblo County High School.
John Gill, world famous climber, father of modernbouldering; taught at University of Southern Colorado (CSU-Pueblo)
William J. Crawford,Medal of Honorrecipient for his service inWorld War II
Raymond G. Murphy, Medal of Honor recipient for his service in theKorean War
Carl L. Sitter, Medal of Honor recipient for his service in the Korean War
Drew Dennis Dix, Medal of Honor recipient for his service in theVietnam War*
Pueblo in popular culture
In theSouth Parkepisode 'The Losing Edge', Pueblo is one of the towns in which the South Park team competes.
Pueblo as a frontier town is the setting forLouis L'Amour's 1981 western novelMilo Talon.
The opening scene in Bo Edwards' 2008 novelLive to Ride(ISBN 978-0-9801345-0-6) is set in Pueblo. The two protagonists are Pueblo natives.
Pueblo is portrayed as a ghostly, radiated ruin in theDarwin's WorldnovelBurning Lands.
Pueblo is portrayed as the city where MacGruber was supposedly buried in 2000 in the 2010 movie which bears his name.
Food Wars, a series on cable television’sTravel Channel, came to Pueblo to stage a contest between the Sunset Inn's and Gray's Coors Tavern's versions of theslopper. The episode first aired in August 2010.
Sister cities
Pueblo has six sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:Weifang,China
Bergamo,Italy
Lucca Sicula,Sicily(Italy)
Chihuahua,Mexico
Puebla,Mexico
Maribor,Slovenia
