# Center, Colorado

The Town of Center is a Statutory Town located in Saguache and Rio Grande counties in Colorado, United States. The town's population was 1,929 at the 2020 United States census with 1,885 residing in Saguache County and 44 residing in Rio Grande County.

## Description

Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C. The nearest college is Adams State College; 23 miles to Alamosa, Colorado.
The town lies near the center of the San Luis Valley, hence the name.

## Geography

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of 553 acres (2.238 km$^2$), all of it land.

### Climate

Center has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk), bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).
Climate data for Center 4 SSW, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, 1941-2020 records: 7,673 ft (2,339 m) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) | 65 (18) | 74 (23) | 83 (28) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 94 (34) | 90 (32) | 89 (32) | 81 (27) | 68 (20) | 61 (16) | 95 (35) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.6 (8.1) | 52.2 (11.2) | 65.4 (18.6) | 72.5 (22.5) | 79.7 (26.5) | 87.3 (30.7) | 88.4 (31.3) | 86.2 (30.1) | 81.9 (27.7) | 74.6 (23.7) | 61.3 (16.3) | 50.0 (10.0) | 89.6 (32.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 38.0 (3.3) | 49.4 (9.7) | 58.1 (14.5) | 66.8 (19.3) | 76.3 (24.6) | 79.8 (26.6) | 78.5 (25.8) | 72.9 (22.7) | 60.8 (16.0) | 46.1 (7.8) | 33.4 (0.8) | 57.6 (14.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 17.9 (−7.8) | 24.0 (−4.4) | 34.8 (1.6) | 42.7 (5.9) | 51.5 (10.8) | 59.3 (15.2) | 63.8 (17.7) | 62.4 (16.9) | 56.2 (13.4) | 44.7 (7.1) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 19.2 (−7.1) | 42.3 (5.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 4.2 (−15.4) | 10.0 (−12.2) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 36.2 (2.3) | 42.3 (5.7) | 47.7 (8.7) | 46.3 (7.9) | 39.5 (4.2) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 16.5 (−8.6) | 5.0 (−15.0) | 27.0 (−2.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −12.7 (−24.8) | −9.3 (−22.9) | 3.6 (−15.8) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 24.3 (−4.3) | 33.1 (0.6) | 40.5 (4.7) | 39.0 (3.9) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 14.3 (−9.8) | −1.6 (−18.7) | −12.8 (−24.9) | −17.5 (−27.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −40 (−40) | −32 (−36) | −16 (−27) | −4 (−20) | 12 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 31 (−1) | 28 (−2) | 16 (−9) | −4 (−20) | −25 (−32) | −41 (−41) | −41 (−41) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.13 (3.3) | 0.27 (6.9) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.53 (13) | 0.58 (15) | 0.63 (16) | 1.32 (34) | 1.19 (30) | 0.70 (18) | 0.61 (15) | 0.46 (12) | 0.46 (12) | 7.21 (183.6) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.50 (8.9) | 2.90 (7.4) | 5.50 (14.0) | 1.80 (4.6) | 0.60 (1.5) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 1.60 (4.1) | 3.10 (7.9) | 6.10 (15.5) | 25.1 (63.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 53.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

As of the census of 2012, there were 2,271 people, 768 households, and 603 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,854.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,102.1/km$^2$). There were 848 housing units at an average density of 1,011.9 units per square mile (390.7 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 10.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1% Native American, 0.09% from other races, and 0.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 87.4% of the population.
There were 768 households, out of which 47.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.56.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.2% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,780, and the median income for a family was $26,143. Males had a median income of $20,844 versus $18,036 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,289. About 27.1% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 22.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

* Public high schools:
* Center High School - grades 9 - 12
* The Academic Recovery Center of San Luis Valley - grades 9 - 12
* Public elementary/middle schools:
* Haskin Elementary School
* Skoglund Middle School - grades 6 - 8
* Private elementary/middle school in Center:
* High Valley Christian School