New Castle, Colorado

New Castle, Colorado
Town
Main Street, looking towards the Grand Hogback
Main Street, looking towards the Grand Hogback
Motto: 
"Authentically Colorado"
Location of New Castle in Garfield County, Colorado.
Location of New Castle in Garfield County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 39°34′20″N 107°32′6″W / 39.57222°N 107.53500°W / 39.57222; -107.53500
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyGarfield County[1]
Incorporated (town)March 27, 1890[2]
Government
 • TypeHome rule municipality[1]
Area
[3]
 • Total
2.61 sq mi (6.75 km2)
 • Land2.52 sq mi (6.52 km2)
 • Water0.089 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
[5]
5,811 ft (1,771 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total
4,923
 • Density1,960/sq mi (755/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code[6]
81647
Area code970
FIPS code08-53395
GNIS feature ID2413042[5]
Websitewww.newcastlecolorado.org

The Town of New Castle is a home rule municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,923 at the 2020 census.[4]

History

When New Castle was incorporated in 1888, its economy was largely based on mining coal that was needed by the silver-mining industry to fire silver smelters. On February 18, 1896, a methane explosion in the Vulcan Mine killed 49 men and started a coal fire that was still burning as of 2020. The Vulcan reopened and suffered additional explosions on December 12, 1913 (killing 37) and November 4, 1918 (killing 3).[7]

There are at least 25 coal fires burning near the town.[8] They are normally confined underground.

From 2000 - 2014 the population grew 129%, much higher than the average growth in Colorado over the same period (20.8%).[9]

Geography

New Castle is located on the north side of the Colorado River, just east of where the river cuts through the Grand Hogback. Interstate 70 passes by the town following the river, with access from Exit 105. I-70 leads east 12 miles (19 km) to Glenwood Springs, the county seat, east 169 miles (272 km) to Denver, and west 74 miles (119 km) to Grand Junction. U.S. Route 6 is Main Street in New Castle and forms a parallel route to I-70 for local traffic. US-6 joins I-70 5 miles (8 km) to the east at Chacra and 17 miles (27 km) to the west at a point west of Rifle.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which 2.7 square miles (6.9 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 1.21%, is water.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890311—
190043138.6%
191049314.4%
1920447−9.3%
19304705.1%
19404843.0%
1950483−0.2%
1960447−7.5%
197049911.6%
198056312.8%
199067920.6%
20001,984192.2%
20104,518127.7%
20204,9239.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, New Castle had a population of 4,923. The median age was 36.3 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[11][12]

98.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.0% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 1,816 households in New Castle, of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.1% were married-couple households, 17.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 1,893 housing units, of which 4.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.[11]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[12]
Race Number Percent
White 3,420 69.5%
Black or African American 20 0.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native 75 1.5%
Asian 51 1.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0%
Some other race 666 13.5%
Two or more races 691 14.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,457 29.6%

Education

New Castle is within Garfield Re-2 School District.[14] The town is home to two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school:

  • Elk Creek Elementary School
  • Kathryn Senor Elementary School
  • Riverside Middle School
  • Coal Ridge High School

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on August 23, 2003. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "New Castle town; Colorado". Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: New Castle, Colorado
  6. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  7. ^ "Vulcan Mine Explosions". February 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Vulcan Mine".
  9. ^ "New Castle, CO - USA.com™". www.usa.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): New Castle town, Colorado". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  12. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  14. ^ "About Garfield Re-2". Garfield Re-2 School District. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
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