South Fork, Colorado
Town of South Fork, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 South Fork as seen from the summit of Agua Ramon Mountain | |
 Location of South Fork in Rio Grande County, Colorado. | |
| Coordinates: 37°40′18″N 106°37′40″W / 37.67167°N 106.62778°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County[1] | Rio Grande County |
| Incorporated | May 19, 1992[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.50 sq mi (6.47 km2) |
| • Land | 2.50 sq mi (6.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 8,216 ft (2,504 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 510 |
| • Density | 200/sq mi (79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code[6] | 81154 |
| Area code | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-72395 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413307[4] |
| Website | Town of South Fork |
South Fork is a statutory town in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. It lies at the confluence of the South Fork and Rio Grande rivers. The population was 510 at the 2020 census.[5]
Geography
[edit]South Fork is located in southern Colorado, in the San Juan Mountains, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. The town is situated along the Rio Grande River, which runs through the Rio Grande National Forest. The town's geographical coordinates are approximately 37.58°N latitude and 106.69°W longitude.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all of which is land. South Fork lies at an elevation of 7,800 feet (2,377 meters) above sea level, contributing to its cool mountain climate. The area is surrounded by rugged terrain, dense forests, and picturesque mountain views, which are a draw for outdoor enthusiasts.
The town is bordered to the west by the Rio Grande National Forest. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions, bald eagles, golden eagles, and various waterfowl along the Rio Grande River.
To the north, the Wolf Creek Pass provides access to the nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area, one of Colorado's ski destinations. South Fork is also part of the larger Rio Grande watershed, which includes the Rio Grande River and its tributaries.
The area's natural landscape is marked by a variety of ecosystems, from coniferous forests at lower elevations to alpine meadows and high mountain peaks at higher altitudes. The town experiences a high desert climate with cool winters and mild summers.
Climate
[edit]South Fork experiences a **high desert climate** with cool winters and mild summers. Its elevation of 7,800 feet (2,377 meters) contributes to significant temperature variation between seasons, with colder temperatures in the winter and warmer, more moderate temperatures in the summer.
Winters
[edit]Winters in South Fork are cold and snowy, with average low temperatures often falling below freezing. Snowfall is common from November through March, with the heaviest snowfall typically occurring in December and January. The nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area draws winter tourists, as it is known for having some of the snowiest conditions in Colorado. Average winter temperatures range from 10°F (-12°C) at night to 30°F (-1°C) during the day.
Summers
[edit]Summers in South Fork are generally mild, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 70°F (21°C) to 85°F (29°C), making it a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping. Nights are cooler, with temperatures often dropping to the 40s or 50s°F (4–15°C). The town receives relatively low rainfall in the summer months, but thunderstorms are common in the afternoons, especially in July and August.
Spring and Fall
[edit]Spring and fall are transitional seasons, with cool to mild temperatures and occasional precipitation. Spring sees temperatures gradually warming, with snow melting to reveal wildflowers and lush green meadows. Fall brings cooler weather and the changing of the leaves in the surrounding forests, creating a display of autumn colors.
History
[edit]South Fork was once the site of timber milling operations.[7]
South Fork was founded in 1882, by which date its location was already marked by the presence of a coaching post, dating from the construction of the railroad connection of the Rio Grande Western Railroad line to Creede, which had been built to support the Creede silver mine. It was only in 1992 that South Fork achieved independent statutory town status, making it the youngest statutory town in the state. Originally the principal economic activities involved forestry and mining, but in recent decades these have been overtaken in the employment statistics by tourism.
South Fork made Colorado headlines during the Summer of 2020 when its town board announced that solicitations for donations was unlawful within town limits. This was in response to a local farmer's market in which one of its vendors was asking people for donations to the Black Lives Matter movement and the NAACP.[8]
Popular Culture
[edit]South Fork's Riverbend Resort was the filming location of fictional 'Kamp Komfort' in the 1983 hit movie National Lampoon's Vacation.
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 604 | — | |
| 2010 | 386 | −36.1% | |
| 2020 | 510 | 32.1% |
South Fork has about 600 permanent residents, but a substantially larger summer population due to seasonal residents and visitors.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Fork, Colorado
- ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "South Fork town, Colorado". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
- ^ a b Bruce Finley (June 23, 2013). "West Fork fire complex at nearly 66,200 acres and feeding on beetle-ravaged forests". Denver Post.
- ^ "Southern Colorado town tells farm owners asking for donations isn't allowed after BLM drive". October 2, 2020.
External links
[edit]Municipalities and communities of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States | ||
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| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated community | ||
| ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
