SPOTLIGHT ON EAGLE
Elevation: 6,604 feet
Population: 41,659
Hispanic or Latino population: 23.2 percent (national percentage: 12.5)
Median household income in 1999 dollars: $62,682 (national median: $41,994)
County: Eagle County seat
Established: 1887; incorporated 1905
Brief history: Miners started moving into the Brush Creek Valley in the late 1880s, filing more than 500 claims. William Edwards established a town at the junction of Brush Creek and the Eagle River in 1887, naming it Castle, for nearby Castle Mountain. The name was changed several times until 1896, when it was permanently named Eagle for the nearby river. It was not until nine years later that the town was incorporated.
In 1890, a stage line between the town and mining camp was established. Today, the Old Fulford Trail, which is used by four-wheelers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers, was a part of that stage route.
Mining was not as profitable in the area as some had thought, so many settlers began farming and ranching or providing services for the miners. The area was known for growing russet potatoes and head lettuce. In the 1920s, lettuce was kept fresh by using ice cut from the Eagle River while being shipped to other parts of the country in railroad cars.
Eagle County was formed in 1883 from Summit County, with the original county seat being Red cliff. In 1921 the seat moved to the town of Eagle.
The town officially turned 100 on March 25 but has had celebrations throughout the year. Tonight, the Christmas on Broadway parade will also feature the centennial theme.
Sources: Kathy Heicher, president, Eagle County Historical Society; The Eagle Valley Enterprise; “Colorado Place Names” by William Bright; Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Census Bureau 2000
REGIONAL NOTES
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
Grants offered for water projects
The Colorado River Water Conservation District is offering grants of up to $15,000 for water-related projects through a competitive application process that ends Jan. 31.
The program considers projects that would develop new water supplies, improve an existing water-supply system, improve in-stream water quality, promote water-use efficiency, reduce sediment and control tamarisk.
Project applicants should submit a grant request using the form found on the Internet at www. crwcd.org.
Applications can be delivered or mailed to: David H. Merritt, Chief Engineer, Colorado River Water Conservation District, 201 Centennial St., Suite 200 (or P.O. Box 1120), Glenwood Springs, CO 81602; or e-mailed to dmerritt@crwcd.org. The phone number is 970-945-8522, ext. 232.
Recipients will be announced in April.
MORRISON
Light show to open this weekend
Bandimere Speedway plans to have repairs done on its “Mile High Lights” drive-through holiday light show in time for the next show on Friday.
Thousands of the show’s 2 million lights were broken and several displays were damaged in Monday’s ferocious windstorm. The show runs from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
After this weekend, the show will be lighted Dec. 16-Jan. 1. For information, call 303-697-4870.
DENVER POST STAFF REPORTS
