SPOTLIGHT ON HOLLY
Elevation: 3,392 feet
Population: 997* (declined from 1,048 in 2000)
Percentage Hispanic or Latino population: 36 (national rate: 12.5)
Percentage of population younger than 5: 8.3 (national rate: 6.8)
Percentage of population 65 and older: 15.8 (national rate: 12.4)
Percentage who speak a language other than English at home: 26.2 (national rate: 17.9)
Percentage of families below poverty level: 21.7 (national rate: 9.2)
County: Prowers
Name: The town was named for Hiram S. Holly, who, after the Civil War, started the Double S Ranch, which originally extended from the town of Granada to the Kansas border.
Brief history: The post office was established in 1880; the town, which is along the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado, incorporated in 1903.
The first record of the Holly (sometimes spelled Holleys or Holley) railroad station appeared in Santa Fe Railroad employee tables in 1881.
South of the railroad station was the ranch headquarters of Hiram Holly, which about 1882 began developing into a community that provided services and shopping. About 1891, the ranch headquarters was starting to become a town.
In the late 1800s, three major cattle trails ran through Prowers County. In 1901, the Santa Fe built chutes and pens for shipping livestock. With the growing amount of business through the town because of the railroad, a mill, elevator and warehouse were built in 1902.
The sugar beet industry was established in 1905 when the Holly Sugar Co. was incorporated. However, after the business’ headquarters moved to Denver in 1911, the sugar industry in the area started to decline.
Even though Holly Sugar moved out, the area’s economy was still based on agriculture, mostly farming of wheat, sugar beets, alfalfa, oats and cantaloupes.
Holly has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places: the Holly City Hall, Holly Santa Fe Depot and the Holly SS Ranch.
In recent years, the town is known as the place where former three-term Gov. Roy Romer grew up.
*Based on 2005 U.S. census estimates; all other census figures are from 2000
Sources: Town of Holly; U.S. Census Bureau; “1001 Colorado Place Names,” by Maxine Benson; “Colorado Place Names,” by William Bright; U.S. Geological Survey;
Colorado Historical Society (coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/pw.htm)
REGIONAL NOTES
AURORA
Symphony to celebrate holidays
The Aurora Symphony Orchestra’s holiday celebration is set for today and Saturday.
The events start at 7:30 p.m. at Gateway High School, 1300 S. Sable Blvd. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.
Under Music Director Richard Niezen, the 50-member volunteer orchestra will perform its International Holiday Celebration, including familiar favorites and often-ignored works. Parking is free.
DENVER POST STAFF REPORTS
