# Penrose, Colorado

Penrose is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office located in and governed by Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Penrose post office has the ZIP Code 81240. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Penrose CDP was 3,685.

## History

Settlers followed the Pike's Peak gold rush (July 1858 and lasted until the creation of the Territory of Colorado on February 28, 1861). Farmers were incentivized by the Homestead Act to come to the area. A stage coach stop was established along Beaver Creek, which was known as the Beaver Creek settlement initially, with a post office there by 1868. Then, the settlement became known as Glendale. It had a stagecoach stop and hotel named Glendale Inn Stage Coach Stop as well as other names. A school was established there in 1868 and operated until 1912, when a school was established in Penrose. It is east or the eastern part of present-day Penrose.
The community was named after Spencer Penrose.
Penrose gained national media attention after a local funeral home, the Return to Nature Funeral Home, was raided by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office in October 2023 due to complaints of a foul smell emanating from the area. The raid revealed 189 improperly-stored dead bodies. The FBI is currently helping with the investigation. In October 2024, the Funeral Home owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for misusing relief money. They are also facing charges in state court for abusing corpses, money laundering, theft and forgery. In November 2024, the Hallford's pleaded guilty in state court to multiple counts of abusing corpses. They are slated to be sentenced the following year for both cases against them.

## Geography

The Penrose CDP has an area of 11,421 acres (46.221 km$^2$), all land.

## Demographics

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Penrose CDP for the 1990 United States census.
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,582 people, 1,454 households, and 1,044 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 107.2 inhabitants per square mile (41.4/km$^2$). There were 1,575 housing units at an average density of 47.2 units per square mile (18.2 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.7% White, 0.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.7% of the population.
There were 1,454 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 19, 3.9% from 20 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 17% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years, jumping up from 39 years in the 2000 census. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
According to the American Community Survey (2008–2012), the median income for a household in the CDP was $47,951, up from $35,638 in the 2000 Census, and the median income for a family was $54,693. Males had a median income of $49,125 versus $35,093 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,774. About 14.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation

Penrose is located just north of the intersection of US 50 and SH 115; 115 runs north 34 miles (55 km) to become Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs. Penrose lies between Pueblo, 30 miles (48 km) to the southeast, and Cañon City, 12 miles (19 km) to the west, on US 50. Rail service existed briefly before World War I. The Fremont County Airport (1V6), usually called the Cañon City airport, actually has a Penrose address. Penrose is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.

### Major highways

* US 50
* SH 115
* SH 120

## Economics

Many residents commute to work in Colorado Springs, or at the prisons of Florence or Cañon City, or at Holcim in Portland, southeast of town. Penrose has a single traffic light, a volunteer-run fire station, a trucking company, a gas station, a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, an elementary school (graduates attend high school in Florence), a doctor's office, a post office, a library, a small grocery store, the Estes Industries model rocket factory, three small restaurants, three medical marijuana dispensaries, and several other businesses.

## Education

Fremont RE-2 School District operates Penrose Elementary School. It also operates a 7–12 school in Florence: Florence Junior/Senior High School.