Fruita, Colorado

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fruita is a city in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,478 at the 2000 census. It is well known for nearby mountain bike and hiking trails.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Area Attractions
5 Fat Tire Festival
6 Mike The Headless Chicken
7 Fruita Fall Festival
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Fruita is located at 39°9′24″N, 108°43′28″W (39.156594, -108.724554)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 km² (6.0 mi²). 15.4 km² (5.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.50%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2004, there were 6,480 people, 2,447 households, and 1,734 families residing in the city. The population density was 421.1/km² (1,091.0/mi²). There were 2,610 housing units at an average density of 169.7/km² (439.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.65% White, 0.37% African American, 1.16% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.45% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.93% of the population.

There were 2,447 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,929, and the median income for a family was $38,487. Males had a median income of $31,372 versus $20,752 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,024. About 8.3% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Fruita was established in 1884 by William Pabor.

[edit] Area Attractions

The Colorado National Monument is almost 20,500 acres of beautiful views and rises more than 200 feet above the valley below. You can spot many diffrent types of animals like Eagles, Bighorn sheep, Mule deer, and more. It has sandstone monoliths, vast canyons, and best of all you can drive over it and stop at the vistors center.

Dinosaur Journey Museum has lots of information on local archeology and a neat earthquake plate.

[edit] Fat Tire Festival

For the bike enthusiast, races, live music and lots of fun. Every year in Spring.

[edit] Mike The Headless Chicken

Fruita is known for Mike the Headless Chicken, a rooster who lived for 18 months after his head was cut off. He was given food and water with a eye dropper. He grew to be almost 8 lbs. Mike went on to tour the country as a side show. A festival in his honor is held each May in Fruita. (See also Lloyd Olson - the remover of Mike's neck)

[edit] Fruita Fall Festival

This festival started in 1910 as a harvest festival and has become so much more. There is live music, carnival rides, a parade, tons of vendors selling everything from homemade jams and candles to clothing and jewelery, and maybe best of all is the wide verity of foods. This is a must see event in September.