Antonito, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The Town of Antonito is a statutory town located in Conejos County, Colorado
, United States. As of the 2000 census
, the town's population was 873.
, Antonito has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land. It is located at 37°4′39"N 106°0′34"W (37.077490, -106.009489), along U.S. Highway 285.
Antonito is the southern terminus of the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
and the eastern terminus of the steam powered, narrow gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which runs westwards to Osier, CO and Chama, NM.
, and 2.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 90.26% of the population.
There were 357 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,205, and the median income for a family was $23,162. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,047. About 26.4% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.
capital of the world" but with one perlite mill closed and many other businesses closing down the town is struggling to survive financially. Town Hall opens an hour late and closes an hour early, the facility management budget has been cut, and the town clerk comes in only as needed. The town has eliminated health insurance for its employees.
Despite a poor economy, there has been much development on Main Street in recent years. An art gallery, a hotel, a library, a second hand store, a tire repair shop and other businesses have been added, while a historic drug store and a pharmacy have been lost. Several abandoned buildings have been purchased and are undergoing renovation in the hope that the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will relocate its operations to the historic train depot located in the center of Antonito. In addition, Iowa Pacific Holdings
is working on tentative plans to build a shipping hub in Antonito linking the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad with truck traffic along US 285. The Chicago-based company is eyeing 1579 acres (6.4 km²) between the town and the New Mexico
state line for the facility, which would also include commercial sites for shipping-related businesses.
Conejos County, Colorado
Conejos County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county population was 8,400 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the unincorporated town of Conejos.-History:...
, United States. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the town's population was 873.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Antonito has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land. It is located at 37°4′39"N 106°0′34"W (37.077490, -106.009489), along U.S. Highway 285.
Antonito is the southern terminus of the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
The San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Colorado.The SLRG began operations in 2003 using 154 miles of former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks on three lines radiating from Alamosa, Colorado. The SLRG operates an eclectic variety of equipment from the...
and the eastern terminus of the steam powered, narrow gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which runs westwards to Osier, CO and Chama, NM.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 873 people, 357 households, and 234 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,212.3 people per square mile (864.3/km²). There were 396 housing units at an average density of 1,003.5 per square mile (392.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 61.40% White, 0.11% African American, 3.55% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 31.96% from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 90.26% of the population.
There were 357 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,205, and the median income for a family was $23,162. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $10,047. About 26.4% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.
Recent developments
Antonito was once known as the "perlitePerlite
Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content, typically formed by the hydration of obsidian. It occurs naturally and has the unusual property of greatly expanding when heated sufficiently...
capital of the world" but with one perlite mill closed and many other businesses closing down the town is struggling to survive financially. Town Hall opens an hour late and closes an hour early, the facility management budget has been cut, and the town clerk comes in only as needed. The town has eliminated health insurance for its employees.
Despite a poor economy, there has been much development on Main Street in recent years. An art gallery, a hotel, a library, a second hand store, a tire repair shop and other businesses have been added, while a historic drug store and a pharmacy have been lost. Several abandoned buildings have been purchased and are undergoing renovation in the hope that the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will relocate its operations to the historic train depot located in the center of Antonito. In addition, Iowa Pacific Holdings
Iowa Pacific Holdings
Iowa Pacific Holdings is a holding company that owns railroad properties across North America and the United Kingdom, as well as providing services such as railcar repairs and leasing and management and consulting services to other operators...
is working on tentative plans to build a shipping hub in Antonito linking the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad with truck traffic along US 285. The Chicago-based company is eyeing 1579 acres (6.4 km²) between the town and the New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
state line for the facility, which would also include commercial sites for shipping-related businesses.
Noteworthy Antonitoans
While many people view Antonito as a "financially-struggling" town with a monetarily poor school district, noteworthy people were born, raised in and/or lived in the town.- José Inez Taylor, co-author of the book Alex and the Hobo.
- Ruben Archuleta, Pueblo, Colorado's first Hispanic Chief of Police in 1995, and author of several books: I Came From El Valle, Land of the Penitentes, Land of Tradition, Eppie Archuleta and the Tale of Juan de la Burra and Penitente Renaissance, Manifesting Hope.
- Carlos Lucero, the first Hispanic president of the Colorado Bar Association, in 1995 became the first Hispanic judge to sit on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
- Celedonio Mondragon, founder of the oldest Hispanic fraternal organization in the nation, La Sociedad Protection Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos.
- Internationally recognized muralist Fred "Lightning Heart" Haberlein graduated from Antonito High School.
- Outsider artist Donald "Cano" Espinoza, builder of the world-famous "Cano's Castle".
- State Representative Rafael Gallegos, D-Antonito.
- Chicano poet Aaron A. Abeyta was born and raised in Antonito. Abeyta won the American Book Award in 2001 for his first collection of poems, Colcha.
External links
- CDOT map of the Town of Antonito
- SLV Dweller - San Luis Valley News, Culture, History and Events.