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59-463: Mancos is a statutory town in Montezuma County, Colorado , United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2020 census , down from 1,336 in 2010 . The town is in southwestern Colorado, at the base of Mesa Verde National Park , and holds the trademark for "Gateway to Mesa Verde". Surrounded by rangeland and mountains, Mancos offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The town

118-591: A sister city , as designated by Sister Cities International : List of cities and towns in Colorado#Statutory town Colorado municipalities range in population from the City and County of Denver with a 2020 population of 715,522, to the Town of Carbonate , which has had no year-round population since the 1890 Census due to its severe winter weather and difficult access. The City of Black Hawk with

177-411: A 2020 population of 127 is the least populous Colorado city, while the Town of Castle Rock with a 2020 population of 73,158 is the most populous Colorado town. At the 2020 United States Census , 4,299,942 of the 5,773,714 Colorado residents (74.47%) lived in one of the 271 municipalities active at the time. Another 714,417 residents (12.37%) lived in one of the 210 census-designated places , while

236-492: A business route; an earlier route of US 160 is now County Road J, south of the river and most of the town. The establishment of Mesa Verde National Park also encouraged early growth of Mancos. Several Mancos sites from about the turn of the 20th century are listed on the state or national register of historic places. The first two are on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties , the remaining are on

295-579: A city council with two members elected from each ward and one member elected at large. The mayor may be the city council member elected at large or the city council may appoint a mayor. Colorado has 157 statutory towns that operate under Title 31, Article 1, Section 203 and Article 4, Part 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The statutory town of Creede uses the official title "City of Creede". Garden City , Lake City , Orchard City , and Sugar City are statutory towns but use city at

354-471: A city or a town), statutory city , statutory town , and territorial charter municipality . State law makes relatively few distinctions between a city and a town. The charter of a home rule municipality may designate either a city or town municipal title. In general, cities are more populous than towns, although long-term population changes may skew this considerably, as illustrated by the City of Black Hawk and

413-543: A major Reclamation Bureau dam led to subsequent strengthening of its dam-safety program to avoid similar problems. Even so, the failure of Teton Dam, the environmental movement, and the announcement of President Carter 's "hit list" on water projects profoundly affected the direction of Reclamation's programs and activities. Reclamation operates about 180 projects in the 17 western states. The total Reclamation investment for completed project facilities in September 1992

472-405: A medical clinic, funded through a variety of private and public sources. The nearest general aviation and commercial airport is located southwest of Cortez, approximately 22 miles (35 km) west of Mancos. There are a few private airstrips in the vicinity of Mancos, but these are not open to the public; a former town airfield near Jackson Gulch Reservoir is sometimes still marked on maps. As of

531-997: A winter ( Nordic ) skiing area and various vacation resorts and dude ranches, as well as an elk ranch and other tourist-, sports-, and hunting-related activities are located in and around the town. As is common in Colorado, many government services are provided by special districts, both inside the corporate limits of the town of Mancos and outside in the county. Among these are the Mancos Library District, Mancos Water Conservancy District and Mancos Fire Protection District (which also provides emergency medical services). The nearest hospitals are Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez (approximately 18 mi or 29 km west) and Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, approximately 34 mi or 55 km east. The town does have

590-637: Is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior , which oversees water resource management, specifically as it applies to the oversight and operation of the diversion, delivery, and storage projects that it has built throughout the western United States for irrigation , water supply , and attendant hydroelectric power generation . It is currently the U.S.'s largest wholesaler of water, bringing water to more than 31 million people, and providing one in five Western farmers with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland, which produce 60% of

649-722: Is to "manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public". In redirecting its programs and responsibilities, Reclamation substantially reduced its staff levels and budgets but remains a significant federal agency in the West. On October 1, 2017, the Hoover Dam Police Department was closed and the National Park Service took over law enforcement duties for

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708-537: The 2020 census , there were 1,196 people residing in the town. The population density was 1,868.75 inhabitants per square mile (721.53/km). There were 588 housing units at an average density of 918.75 per square mile (354.73/km). As of the census of 2010 , there were 1,336 people, 546 households, and 320 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,227.41 inhabitants per square mile (860.01/km). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 950 units per square mile (370 units/km). The racial makeup

767-621: The National Register of Historic Places : Attempts to create a separate Mancos County from the eastern portion of Montezuma County in the mid-20th century failed. Agricultural development, and to a certain extent, tourism, benefited from the Mancos Project of the US Bureau of Reclamation in the 1950s, which created Jackson Reservoir north of the town, today the site of Mancos State Park . This project also supplies water for

826-689: The Natural Resources Conservation Service , and local irrigation and water companies and districts. The project, nearly complete in 2010, includes replacing many open irrigation ditches with piping to conserve water and prevent salt contamination from infiltration and evaporation of irrigation water. Many of the original irrigation ditches have been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places , together with various archeological sites. Incorporated in 1894, Mancos town government quickly asserted itself, banning fast riding and driving (of wagons) in town

885-582: The OpenStreetMap link at the right to view the location of these 273 municipalities. Twenty-one active municipalities currently extend into more than one county . 38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W  /  38.9972°N 105.5478°W  / 38.9972; -105.5478  ( State of Colorado ) US Bureau of Reclamation The Bureau of Reclamation , formerly the United States Reclamation Service ,

944-574: The Town of Castle Rock . Neither village nor civil township is a type of civil division in the State of Colorado. The cities of Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village and the towns of Log Lane Village , Mountain Village , and Snowmass Village have the word "village" at the end of their names. Nineteen Colorado municipalities extend into two counties, while two cities – Aurora and Littleton – extend into three counties. In

1003-575: The Town of Sawpit with 19 acres (0.078 km ) of land area was the least extensive. The City of Glendale with a 2020 population density of 8,117 residents per square mile (3,134/km ) was the most densely populated municipality, while the Town of Bonanza with a 2020 population density of 38 residents per square mile (15/km ) was the least densely populated municipality after Carbonate. Colorado municipalities operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority — consolidated city and county , home rule municipality (which may be either

1062-492: The census of 2000, there were 1,119 people, 478 households, and 292 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,938.4 inhabitants per square mile (748.4/km). There were 524 housing units at an average density of 907.7 units per square mile (350.5 units/km). The racial makeup of the town was 88.65% White , 2.23% Native American , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 7.86% from other races , and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.42% of

1121-492: The 1960s and earlier drew to an end. Reclamation wrote that "The arid West essentially has been reclaimed. The major rivers have been harnessed and facilities are in place or are being completed to meet the most pressing current water demands and those of the immediate future". Emphasis in Reclamation programs shifted from construction to operation and maintenance of existing facilities. Reclamation's redefined official mission

1180-412: The Colorado Revised Statutes. A statutory city must have a population of at least 2,000 at the time of incorporation or reorganization, although three have lost population since. Statutory cities have an elected mayor and a city council composed of the mayor and two members elected from each ward. A statutory city may petition to reorganize as a Section 200 statutory city with an appointed city manager and

1239-483: The Colorado Revised Statutes; and the home rule charter of each municipality. The state-authorized home rule charter determines the form of government. Home rule gives local municipalities the power to make legislation relevant to their areas, exercising control over issues of local concern while minimizing state intervention in municipal affairs. Colorado has 11 statutory cities that operate under Title 31, Article 1, Section 203 and Article 4, Section 100 or Section 200 of

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1298-490: The Constitution of the State of Colorado. Broomfield has an appointed city and county manager , an elected mayor, and a city council of 11 members composed of the mayor and two members elected from each of five wards. As of 2024, Colorado has 102 cities and towns that are home rule municipalities, which are self-governing under Article 20 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado; Title 31, Article 1, Section 202 of

1357-842: The Department of the Interior. Frederick Haynes Newell was appointed the first director of the new bureau. Beginning with the third person to take over the direction of Reclamation in 1923, David W. Davis, the title was changed from Director to Commissioner. In the early years, many projects encountered problems: lands or soils included in projects were unsuitable for irrigation ; land speculation sometimes resulted in poor settlement patterns; proposed repayment schedules could not be met by irrigators who had high land-preparation and facilities-construction costs; settlers were inexperienced in irrigation farming; waterlogging of irrigable lands required expensive drainage projects; and projects were built in areas which could only grow low-value crops. In 1923

1416-526: The Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam Police Department existed for more than 80 years. Reclamation commissioners that have had a strong impact and molding of the Bureau have included Elwood Mead , Michael W. Straus , and Floyd Dominy , with the latter two being public-power boosters who ran the Bureau during its heyday. Mead guided the bureau during the development, planning, and construction of the Hoover Dam,

1475-764: The La Plata Mountains, a range to the east and northeast, in which the headwaters of the Mancos River originate. Originally laid out as a railroad town, Mancos stretches for approximately a mile along the river and on both sides of it, while newer areas lie north of the old railroad alignment (now U.S. Route 160 , part of the San Juan Skyway and the Old Spanish Trail ). The small main business district lies along Business Route 160 (Grand Avenue), while newer business areas are located along

1534-633: The Mancos River to cropland and pasture in various parts of the Mancos Valley in the late 1870s and 1880s, and by the beginning of the 20th century a large network of irrigation ditches and laterals was operating and continues to operate (with improvements) today. In the mid-2000s, a large project, the Mancos Valley Salinity Control Project , was funded by various sources, including the US Bureau of Reclamation ,

1593-582: The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners. Mancos is located in eastern Montezuma County. According to the United States Census Bureau , Mancos has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km), all of it recorded as land. The town is located in the Mancos River valley at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The Mancos River was named by Spanish explorers ( Rio de los Mancos - "River of

1652-596: The Sleeve") perhaps for the way the river, which rises in the La Plata Mountains northeast of Mancos, drains the valley and then flows into the narrow confines of Weber Canyon and Mancos Canyon, southwest of Mesa Verde, where it joins the San Juan River . The town's skyline is dominated by the mass of Mesa Verde 7 miles (11 km) to the west, Menefee Mountain 2 miles (3 km) to the southeast, and

1711-650: The State of Colorado, only Denver and Broomfield have consolidated city and county governments. The City and County of Denver operates under Article XX, Section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado ; and Title 30, Article 11, Section 101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes . Denver has an elected mayor and a city council of 13 members with 11 members elected from council districts and two members elected at large. The City and County of Broomfield operates under Article XX, Sections 10–13 of

1770-605: The State of New York . The Town of Georgetown is the only municipality that still operates under a charter granted by the Territory of Colorado . The town operates under Article 14, Section 13 of the Charter & Constitution of the Colorado Territory enacted on January 28, 1868. The town mayor is called the police judge and the town council is called the board of selectmen . Download coordinates as: Select

1829-635: The United States Bureau of Reclamation. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 16, 2017. Burman is the first woman to ever lead the Bureau of Reclamation. David Murillo was serving as the acting commissioner of the bureau. Burman resigned on January 20 after the inauguration of the Biden Administration . The current Commissioner is Camille Calimlim Touton , the first Filipino American to head

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1888-609: The United States' first multiple-purpose dam. John W. Keys , the 16th Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation who served from July 2001 to April 2006, was killed two years after his retirement on May 30, 2008, when the airplane he was piloting crashed in Canyonlands National Park , Utah . On June 26, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Brenda Burman to serve as the Commissioner of

1947-456: The age of 18 living with them, 209 (38.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 44 (8.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 3 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 81 (14.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 30 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. 226 (14.4%) were non-families. 184 (33.7%) of all households were made up of individuals, and 66 (12.1%) had someone living alone who

2006-557: The agency was renamed the "Bureau of Reclamation". In 1924, however, in the face of increasing settler unrest and financial woes, the "Fact Finder's Report" spotlighted major problematic issues; the Fact Finders Act in late 1924 sought to resolve some of these problems. In 1928 Congress authorized the Boulder Canyon ( Hoover Dam ) Project, and large appropriations began, for the first time, to flow to Reclamation from

2065-488: The area and its multitude of small villages abandoned by the ancient Pueblo people ( Anasazi ). The Mancos area is dotted with inventoried and uninventoried archeological sites, including both isolated houses and shelters and small village complexes. Mancos Valley residents were probably among those who withdrew to the cliff dwellings on Mesa Verde , perhaps for defensive purposes, due to climate change , or as part of concentration policy of possible invaders and occupiers of

2124-610: The area of Mancos from 1829 into the 1850s. Part of the original Ute Reservation in 1868, Mancos was part of the San Juan Cession of 1873, and cattle ranchers began settling the Mancos Valley in the 1870s, providing cattle to the mining camps of the San Juan and La Plata ranges. Today, the boundary of the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation is located some 6 miles (10 km) south of town. At

2183-403: The average family size was 2.93. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males. The median income for a household in the town

2242-476: The east and the Telluride mining districts to the north, via Dolores. Ranchers in the Mancos Valley continued to provide beef, timber, and other agricultural products to the mining camps. Following this, Latter-day Saints colonists moved into the area and established farms and small communities such as Weber and Cherry Creek. Local farmers and ranchers began constructing irrigation canals to bring water from

2301-401: The end of their names. Statutory towns have an elected mayor and a board of trustees composed of the mayor and four or six additional members elected at large. Colorado statutory cities and towns are limited to exercising powers that are granted by the state and are subject to provisions and limitations imposed by the state and are similar to villages in other states such as the villages of

2360-465: The general funds of the United States. The authorization came only after a hard-fought debate about the pros and cons of public power versus private power. The heyday of Reclamation construction of water facilities occurred during the Depression and the 35 years after World War II . From 1941 to 1947, Civilian Public Service labor was used to carry on projects otherwise interrupted by

2419-477: The last weekend in July, a motorcycle rally over Labor Day weekend, and a balloon festival in September. Much of the farm and ranch land in the Mancos Valley has been subdivided into rural residential and "hobby ranch" properties in recent years, as is happening in much of Montezuma County. Several major subdivisions immediately adjacent to Mancos are in various stages of development and are expected to greatly increase

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2478-537: The main highway. The highly publicized death of a schoolchild in 2003 led to a major reconstruction of US 160 through the town in following years, creating a street pattern which somewhat hampers development. US 160 leads west 18 miles (29 km) to Cortez , the Montezuma county seat , and east 27 miles (43 km) to Durango . Colorado State Highway 184 leads northwest from Mancos 18 miles (29 km) to Dolores . The Mancos River flows from east to west through

2537-653: The name remains unclear (see below). By some unverified accounts, the name Mancos refers to the crippled nature of the Spanish explorers' horses after they crossed the San Juan Mountains . According to unverified lore, the horses were rejuvenated by the lush green grass in the Mancos Valley. Somewhere in the town is the point at which the expedition crossed the Rio Mancos on its way to California from Old Mexico. The Old Spanish Trail trade route passed through

2596-644: The nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts. The Bureau is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western U.S. On June 17, 1902, in accordance with the Reclamation Act , Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock established the U.S. Reclamation Service within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The new Reclamation Service studied potential water development projects in each western state with federal lands. Revenue from sale of federal lands

2655-411: The next year, as well as building boardwalks. A water system and electrical system were constructed in 1904, followed by a new bridge across the river in 1905 and concrete sidewalks in 1909. However, most side streets of the town remain unpaved. The abandonment of the railroad in the 1950s allowed US 160 to be rerouted to follow the present Railroad Avenue, leaving Grand Avenue, the town's main street, as

2714-407: The population. There were 478 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and

2773-467: The region. Archaeological sites of the ancient Pueblo period include: Control of the area was contested by nomadic Navajo and Ute people for centuries. Spanish friars and military passed through the area as part of the Old Spanish Trail connecting New Mexico and California in the 18th century. The name "Mancos" comes from the Domínguez–Escalante expedition of 1776, though the reason for

2832-404: The remaining 759,355 residents (13.15%) lived in the many rural and mountainous areas of the state. In 2020, only 1,968 square miles (5,097 km ) of Colorado's 103,642 square miles (268,431 km ) of land area (1.90%) were incorporated in the 271 active municipalities. The City of Colorado Springs with 195 square miles (506 km ) of land area was the most extensive municipality, while

2891-510: The time it was founded, Mancos served as the primary commercial trading center for eastern Montezuma County, rivaling the town of Dolores to the northwest. At that time, Cortez , now the county seat, was barely a bend in the wagon trail. In the 1890s, Mancos was platted and built as a stop along the Rio Grande Southern Railroad built by Otto Mears - Colorado's southwestern railroad pathfinder, connecting Durango to

2950-635: The town's population by 2015, despite some slowdown due to economic conditions. The Mancos Library District constructed a new public library in 2008, located on a former electrical generating station site south of the Mancos River. Most recent new businesses and business activity are occurring outside the corporate limits of the town, in Montezuma County jurisdiction. In 2007–2010, there have been numerous controversial approvals of new commercial developments, including mail-order firms, sand and gravel pits, ready-mix plants and hot-mix asphalt facilities, by

3009-436: The town, a rural water district, and Mesa Verde National Park. In recent years the growth of Durango has spread to Mancos, making the town something of an art colony . Aramark , the concessionaire for Mesa Verde National Park, has facilities in the town, and there is a specialty aspen sawmill ( Western Excelsior ) and other small industrial enterprises. Numerous events are held in the town each year, including Mancos Days

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3068-486: The town, and then flows to the south into Mancos Canyon, on the west and south toe of Mesa Verde. Much of the townsite is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (the 100-year floodplain )), including most bridges connecting the two parts of the town. 5 miles (8 km) northeast of town is Mancos State Park located on Jackson Gulch Reservoir , built by the Mancos Irrigation Project. Echo Basin,

3127-451: The war effort. The last major authorization for construction projects occurred in the late 1960s, while a parallel evolution and development of the American environmental movement began to result in strong opposition to water development projects. Even the 1976 failure of Teton Dam as it filled for the first time did not diminish Reclamation's strong international reputation in water development circles. However, this first and only failure of

3186-532: Was $ 25,223, and the median income for a family was $ 32,188. Males had a median income of $ 27,708 versus $ 17,292 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 13,946. About 11.8% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over. Mancos is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line. Mancos has

3245-505: Was 1,141 (85.4%) White , 1 (0.1%) Black or African American , 84 (6.3%) Native American , 9 (0.7%) Asian , 4 (0.3%) Pacific Islander , 56 (4.2%) from other races , and 41 (3.1%) from two or more races. There were 164 (12.3%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race. 1,263 people (94.5% of the population) lived in households, 73 (5.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized. There were 546 households, out of which 191 (35.0%) had children under

3304-462: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.01. In the town, the population was spread out, with 356 (26.6%) under the age of 18, 67 (5.0%) aged 18 to 24, 363 (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 341 (25.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 209 (15.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. As of

3363-648: Was about $ 11 billion. Reclamation projects provide agricultural, household, and industrial water to about one‑third of the population of the American West. About 5% of the land area of the West is irrigated, and Reclamation provides water to about one-fifth of that area, some 9,120,000 acres (37,000 km ) in 1992. Reclamation is a major American generator of electricity . As of 2007 , Reclamation had 58 power plants on‑line and generated 125,000 GJ of electricity. From 1988 to 1994, Reclamation underwent major reorganization as construction on projects authorized in

3422-466: Was founded in 1894, near the site where early Spanish explorers first crossed the Mancos River . It is the commercial center for east Montezuma County, and was considered at one time as a county seat. It is served by U.S. Highway 160 and State Highway 184 . The Mancos Valley has been settled since at least the 10th century AD, although various severe conditions in the mid to late 13th century saw

3481-733: Was the initial source of the program's funding. Because Texas had no federal lands, it did not become a Reclamation state until 1906, when Congress passed a law including it in the provisions of the Reclamation Act. From 1902 to 1907, Reclamation began about 30 projects in Western states. Then, in 1907, the Secretary of the Interior separated the Reclamation Service from the USGS and created an independent bureau within

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