Overview

Introduction to Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison, Colorado is 115 miles W of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is located in Gunnison County.

Gunnison History

Gunnison, which is the county seat of Gunnison County, was named in honor of John W. Gunnison, who explored the area and was a United States Army officer. In 1853, he surveyed for the transcontinental railroad. Gunnison was officially incorporated in 1880. In the same year, the railroad entered into the area. The community houses the Western State College, which was formerly named Colorado State Normal School and was founded in 1909. Gunnison County, which was established in 1877, was first home to the Ute Indians. Due to the favorable location of Gunnison, it gradually became the hub of enterprise for that part of the State.

Gunnison and nearby Attractions

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  • Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Curecanti National Recreation Area
  • Aspen Art Museum
  • Leadville Heritage Museum
  • Crawford State Park

Things To Do In Gunnison

One can shop at the Meadows Shopping Center while in the city. Golf enthusiasts may enjoy a visit to the Legion Park Golf Course, which is extremely well facilitated and offers ample opportunities for recreation. One may visit churches like Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, and the Church of Christ. The Crawford State Park, the Ridgway State Park, the Curecanti National Recreation Area, and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park are some of the popular tourist destinations. One may also plan a day trip to places such as the Cliff Creek Trail and the Gunnison Pioneer Museum. Local festivals include the River Festival in May and Cattlemen’s Day’s in July.

Gunnison Transportation

Air transportation facilities are available from Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport.

Gunnison Higher Education

Western State College Colorado is the local higher educational institution. Other nearby institutions include Colorado School of Mines, Colorado Mountain College, and Mesa State College.

Demographics

People

Total Population6,322
Male Share of the Population54.4%
Female Share of the Population45.6%
Senior Citizens9.4%
Employed Population 16+3,793
Age of the Population26

Families

% of people married25.1%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher49.2%
Median Earnings25+$29,600
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$0
Median Earnings With High School Degree$29,779

Wealth

Median Family Income$61,528
% Above Poverty Level77.6%
% Below Poverty Level22.4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time12 minutes
% Working from Home3%
% Walking and Biking to Work23.8%
% Using Public Transportation4.7%

Housing

People Living Alone34.4%
Median Gross Rent$858
Median House Value$201,300

Ancestry

German30.5%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)23.3%
Irish13.8%
English10.7%
Italian6.8%
French Except Basque4.2%
Norwegian3.8%
Scottish3.1%
Dutch3%
Russian2.9%
Polish2.7%
Swedish1.7%
Hungarian0.8%
Ukrainian0.8%
Welsh0.7%
Lithuanian0.7%
Slovene0.7%
Swiss0.6%
Iranian0.6%
Danishn0.5%
Czech0.4%
Canadian0.4%
Greek0.3%
Jamaican0.3%
West Indian0.3%
Portuguese0.3%
Belgian0.3%
African0.3%
Kenyan0.3%
Finnish0.3%
Austrian0.1%
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Gunnison Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyGunnison County
Standard Zip Codes81230, 81247
Company Zip Codes81231
Phone Area Codes970
Time ZoneAmerica/Denver
Approximate Latitude38.55
Approximate Longitude-106.92

Gunnison Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationGUNNISON 3 SW
Distance2.4 miles
Jan Temp-6 to 25 F
Apr Temp22 to 54 F
Jul Temp42 to 80 F
Oct Temp22 to 60 F
Annual Precip9.9 inches
StationBLUE MESA LAKE
Distance14.2 miles
Jan Temp-0 to 27 F
Apr Temp25 to 55 F
Jul Temp47 to 82 F
Oct Temp28 to 61 F
Annual Precip9.2 inches
StationCIMARRON
Distance35.4 miles
Jan Temp2 to 33 F
Apr Temp25 to 57 F
Jul Temp44 to 85 F
Oct Temp25 to 64 F
Annual Precip13.1 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Crested Butte1,332$92,031
Mount Crested Butte967$89,583
Pitkin100$60,893

Gunnison Public Libraries

Gunnison County Library District
307 N WISCONSIN
Gunnison, Colorado
(970) 641-3485

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More Information for Librarians

Gunnison Hospitals

Gunnison Valley Hospital
(Government - Local)
711 N Taylor Street
(970) 641-1456

Gunnison Public Schools

Gunnison Elementary School
1099 North 11th
ZIP: 81230
Primary
Total Enrollment 544
Gunnison High School
800 West Ohio
ZIP: 81230
High
Total Enrollment 342
Gunnison Middle School
1099 North 11th
ZIP: 81230
Middle
Total Enrollment 278
Lake Preschool
800 North Boulevard
ZIP: 81230
Primary
Total Enrollment 80
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