Fraser, Colorado

History

Fraser was incorporated in 1953. A post office called Fraser has been in operation since 1876. The town derives its name from Reuben Frazer, a pioneer settler.

Geography

Fraser is located in southeastern Grand County at 39°56′39″N 105°48′48″W (39.944158, -105.813355), at an elevation of 8,574 feet (2,613 m) above sea level. It is bordered to the south by the town of Winter Park and to the north by unincorporated Tabernash. U.S. Route 40 leads south and east across Berthoud Pass 71 miles (114 km) to Denver, and northwest 15 miles (24 km) to Granby, the largest town in Grand County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km²), or 0.14%, is water. The Fraser River passes through the east side of town, flowing north toward the Colorado River.

Climate

Fraser, with an annual mean temperature of 32.5 °F (0.3 °C) (or 34.8 °F (1.6 °C) based on another station in town) is the coldest incorporated town in the lower 48 states. It also has the shortest growing season with an average of only 4 to 7 days (depending on which weather station data is used) and can and does get frost year-round, totaling over 300 nights under 32 °F (0 °C), rivalled only by Barrow, Alaska, among currently inhabited localities in the United States. The total of 79 nights under 0 °F (−17.8 °C) is also among the highest in the contiguous 48 states, but the 72 days with highs not topping freezing is exceeded by substantial areas of North Dakota, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Both Fraser and International Falls, Minnesota, have claimed the title "Icebox of the Nation", which has caused conflict between the two towns over the years.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Fraser has a subalpine climate, abbreviated Dfc on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Fraser is 98 °F (36.7 °C) on August 1, 1969, and the coldest −53 °F (−47.2 °C) on January 10, 1962. The wettest calendar year has been 1957 with 30.33 inches (770.4 mm) and the driest 1944 with 11.04 inches (280.4 mm), whilst the most precipitation in one month has been 7.69 inches (195.3 mm) in September 1961. Snowfall is naturally heavy at 142.5 inches (3.62 m) and has ranged up to 82.4 inches (2.09 m) in February 1936 and 275.5 inches (7.00 m) from July 1926 to June 1927.

Icebox of the Nation

Fraser, Colorado has been in a dispute with International Falls, Minnesota since 1956 over use of the trademark "Icebox of the Nation." After several years of legal battles, the United States Patent and Trademark Office officially registered the slogan with International Falls on January 29, 2008.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 910 people, 410 households, and 191 families residing in the town. The population density was 491.1 people per square mile (189.9/km²). There were 622 housing units at an average density of 335.7 per square mile (129.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.51% White, 0.88% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.

There were 410 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.2% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the town, the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 46.2% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 129.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,173, and the median income for a family was $39,643. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $26,346 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,628. About 11.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Amtrak (the National Passenger Railroad Corporation) provides regular service to Fraser and nearby Winter Park (station code: WIP), operating its California Zephyr daily in each direction between Chicago, Illinois and Emeryville, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2015, Amtrak also resumed seasonal ski train service to the Winter Park station (station code:WPR) at the Winter Park Resort. The new Winter Park Express resumed service ski train service that had been provided to resort by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's Ski Train for nearly 70 years.