Editing Telluride, Colorado

{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name               = Telluride, Colorado
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| motto              = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = Telluride Colorado.jpg
| imagesize          = 200px
| image_caption      = Colorado Avenue: As seen from The New Sheridan Hotel
| image_map          = File:San Miguel County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Telluride Highlighted 0876795.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Telluride in San Miguel County, Colorado
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  =
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|Home rule municipality]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Teddy Errico <ref> https://www.teddyfortown.com/ </ref>
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1878
| established_title2 = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = February 10, 1887, 
as Columbia
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  =
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 5.76
| area_land_km2      = 5.76
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.22
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.22
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2607
| population_density_km2 = 452.6
| population_density_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
| utc_offset         = −7
| timezone_DST       = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −6
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|56|22|N|107|49|05|W|region:US-CO|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 8754
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 81435
| area_code          = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 08-76795
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2413371<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413371}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.telluride-co.gov/ Town of Telluride]
}}
[[File:Telluride geologic map.jpg|thumb|Telluride [[geological map]] and location of historic mines]]
[[File:Telluride from the ski hill.jpg|thumb|Fall colors in Telluride. View from the ski area, 2010]]

'''Telluride''' is the [[county seat]] and most populous town of [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel County]] in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of [[Colorado]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>  The town is a former [[silver mining]] camp on the [[San Miguel River (Colorado)|San Miguel River]] in the western [[San Juan Mountains]]. The first gold mining claim was made in the mountains above Telluride in 1875, and early settlement of what is now Telluride followed. The town was founded in 1878.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telluride-co.gov/566/History-of-Telluride |title=History of Telluride |website=Telluride, CO - Official Website|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

Telluride sits in a [[Canyon|box canyon]]. Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround it, with [[Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)|Bridal Veil Falls]] situated at the canyon's head. Numerous weathered ruins of old mining operations dot the hillsides. A free [[Gondola lift|gondola]] connects the town with its companion town, [[Mountain Village, Colorado|Mountain Village]], at the base of the ski area. Telluride and the surrounding area have featured prominently in popular culture, and it is the subject of several popular songs. It is especially known for its [[ski resort]] and slopes during the winter, as well as an extensive festival schedule during the summer, including the Hot Air Balloon Festival, which traditionally occurs the first weekend in June.

The [[Telluride Historic District]], which includes a significant portion of the town, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and is also one of [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Colorado|Colorado's 20 National Historic Landmarks]]. The town population was 2,607 in the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name="United States Census 2020">{{cite web | url = https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0876795 | title = Census - Geography Profile: Telluride town, Colorado | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = February 23, 2022}}</ref>

== History ==
===Mining days===
Gold was first discovered in Colorado near present-day Denver, setting off the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush|Pike's Peak gold rush of 1858]]. The Smuggler gold vein above Telluride, and placer gold in the [[San Miguel River (Colorado)|San Miguel River]], were discovered in 1875.<ref name=Voynick>Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555}}</ref>{{rp|51,54}}  John Fallon made the first claim in Marshal Basin above Telluride in 1875 and settlement followed. The town of [[Columbia, Colorado|Columbia]] was founded in 1878. The Telluride, Colorado, post office opened at Columbia on July 26, 1880, since the [[United States Post Office Department]] would not approve the name Columbia. Columbia (Telluride since 1887) has been the seat of [[San Miguel County, Colorado]], since the county was created on March 2, 1883. The Town of Columbia was incorporated on February 10, 1887, but the town changed its name to the Town of Telluride a few months later. The town was named after valuable [[ore]] compounds of the [[chemical element]] [[tellurium]], a [[metalloid]] element which forms natural [[telluride (chemistry)|tellurides]], the most notable of which are telluride ores of gold and silver. Although [[Gold chalcogenides|gold telluride]] minerals were never actually found in the mountains near Telluride, the area's [[Mining|mines]] were rich in [[zinc]], [[lead]], [[copper]], silver, and ores which contained gold in other forms.

Telluride began slowly because of its isolated location. In 1881, a [[toll road]] was opened by [[Otto Mears]], which allowed wagons to go where only pack [[mule]]s could go before. This increased the number of people in Telluride, but it was still expensive to get gold-rich ore out of the valley.

In June 1889, [[Butch Cassidy]], before becoming associated with his gang, the "[[Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch|Wild Bunch]]", robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride. This was his first major recorded crime. He exited the bank with [[United States dollar|$]]24,580 (equal to ${{Inflation|US|24850|1889|fmt=c}} today) and later became famous as a bank robber.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/old-text-wrinkles-did-butch-cassidy-survive-083206159.html|access-date=August 15, 2011|title=Old text, new wrinkles: Did Butch Cassidy survive?|agency=Associated Press|first=Mead|last=Gruver|date=August 15, 2011}}</ref>

In 1891, the [[Rio Grande Southern Railroad]], also begun by Mears, arrived in Telluride, eventually building a two-stall engine house, water facilities, a section house and a bunkhouse, sidings, and a depot. It continued further up the valley to end its Telluride branch at Pandora, serving the mines and the town until 1952. The cheaper and consistent transportation for passengers and freight allowed miners and goods to flow into the San Miguel town and ore to flow out to the mills and foundries elsewhere. This brought a brief but unprecedented boom to Telluride before the [[Panic of 1893]].<ref name=NGC_Telluride>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Jerry|title=Telluride, Colorado – Mile Post 45.1 – Elev. 8,756ft|url=http://www.narrowgauge.org/ngc/html/excursion1/excursion1-telluride.html|work=The Narrow Gauge Circle|publisher=Mark L. Evans|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>

Around the turn of the 20th century, there were serious [[trade union|labor disputes]] in the mines near Telluride. The [[Colorado National Guard]] was called out and there were deaths on both sides. [[trade union|Unions]] were formed as miners joined the [[Western Federation of Miners]] in 1896. 1899 brought big changes as union [[strike action]] led most mines to grant miners $3 a day for an 8-hour day's work plus a boarding pay of $1 a day (equal to ${{Inflation|US|1|1899}} today). At this time, workers were putting in 10- to 12-hour days and the mines ran 24 hours a day. [[Occupational safety and health|Work conditions]] were treacherous, with mines above {{cvt|12000|ft|-2}}, a lack of safety measures, and bitter weather in winter months. Even the [[boarding house]]s were precariously placed on the mountainsides.

Telluride's labor unrest occurred against the backdrop of a statewide struggle between miners and mine owners. [[Bulkeley Wells]] was one mine operator considerably hostile to the union. The Telluride Miners' Union was led by [[Vincent Saint John|Vincent St. John]]. The disappearance of mine guard [[William J. Barney]], which Wells declared a "murder", created much intrigue and national interest. The accusations, animosity, [[gun]]play, and expulsions that followed were part of an ongoing struggle throughout Colorado's mining communities which came to be called the [[Colorado Labor Wars]].

In 1891, Telluride's [[L. L. Nunn]] joined forces with [[George Westinghouse]] to build the [[Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant]], an [[alternating current]] [[power station]], near Telluride. The plant supplied power to the [[2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill|Gold King Mine]] {{convert|3.5|mi}} away. This was the first successful demonstration of long-distance transmission of industrial-grade alternating current power and used two {{cvt|100|hp}} Westinghouse alternators, one working as a generator producing 3,000 volts, 133 Hertz, single-phase AC, and the other used as an AC motor.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=31O4upzTHQwC&q=In+1891+Telluride+westinghouse+induction+motor&pg=PA39|title=The Foundations of Vacuum Coating Technology|first=D. M.|last=Mattox|date=January 15, 2013|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=9780080947051|access-date=March 26, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> This hydroelectric AC power plant predated the Westinghouse plant at [[Niagara Falls]] by four years.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Nunn and his brother Paul built power plants in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Mexico, and the Ontario Power plant at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Nunn developed a keen interest in education as part of his electrical power companies, and in conjunction with Cornell University built the [[Telluride House]] at Cornell in 1909 to educate promising students in [[electrical engineering]]. Later, Nunn along with [[Charles Doolittle Walcott|Charles Walcott]], started the non-profit [[Telluride Association]]. Nunn founded [[Deep Springs College]] in 1917.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.deepsprings.edu/history/ |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=Deep Springs College |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Telluride's most famous historic mines are the Tomboy, Pandora, Smuggler-Union, Nellie, and Sheridan mines. Beginning in 1939, the hard-rock mining operations in the Red Mountain and Telluride mining districts began a lengthy [[Consolidation (business)|consolidation]] under the [[Idarado Mine|Idarado Mining Company]] (Idarado), now a division of [[Newmont|Newmont Mining]]. The consolidation ended in 1953 with Idarado's acquisition of the Telluride Mines. Idarado kept the underground workings and mill operations open at Telluride's Pandora hard-rock mine until 1978. When the mine officially closed, the [[snow]] which tormented Telluride's miners became the town's new source of income, in the form of [[skiing]] and tourism. The documentary video "the YX factor" chronicles the transition from mining to skiing and the influx of "[[hippie]]s" in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the words of local residents and commentators such as [[Peter Yarrow]] and [[Tom Hayden]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/755239 |title=Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song |date=1983 |publisher=University of Texas Press |doi=10.7560/755239 |isbn=978-0-292-74801-9 |last1=Owens |first1=William A. }}</ref>

[[File:AERIAL VIEW OF TELLURIDE SHOWING NEWLY-CUT SKI TRAILS (IN RIGHT FOREGROUND - NARA - 543746.jpg|thumb|upright|Aerial view of newly cut Boomerang Road (May 1972).]]

===Skiing era===
Mining was Telluride's only industry until 1972 when the first [[Chairlift|ski lift]] was installed by [[Telluride Ski Resort]] founder [[Joseph T. Zoline]] and his Telluride Ski Corporation (Telco). Zoline bought the land for the future resort in 1969 and began to craft the slopes. Along with his mountain manager, Telluride native Bill "Sr." Mahoney, they slowly and thoughtfully put together a plan for the sustained development of Telluride and the region. As mining phased out and a new service industry phased in, the local population changed sharply. Mining families fled Telluride to settle in places like [[Moab, Utah]], where uranium mining offered hope of continued employment. Mining families were replaced by what locals referred to as "[[hippie]]s", young people with a 1960s worldview that often clashed with the values of Telluride's old-timers. These newcomers were characterized as idle "trust funders" drawn to the town for a casual lifestyle and outdoor excitements such as [[hang gliding]], [[Mountaineering|mountain climbing]], and [[kayaking]].

The new population opposed town growth and economic expansion, including growth due to tourism and skiing. At one point, a serious effort was made to ban cars from the city limits and force visitors to use horse-drawn carts. The 1970s had fluctuating snowfalls and economic recession, but the town's music and [[Telluride Film Festival|film festivals]] flourished. They exposed hundreds of thousands to the grandeur of the valley for the first time and created iconic associations with elite entertainers. Meanwhile, ski area founder Joe Zoline worked to develop one of the best mountains in North America for expert skiers,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} and created the infrastructure for tourism that respected Telluride's need to stay small.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

As the final ore carts were rolling out of the Pandora mine, tourists began to discover Telluride's views, skiing, and autumn color changes. After the brutal snow drought of 1976 nearly wiped out the embryonic ski and lodging industry, the town started to rebound economically. In 1978, Ron Allred and his partner Jim Wells bought a stake in the ski area to form the Telluride Company. They expanded the infrastructure by adding a gondola connecting Telluride with the Mountain Village.

During the 1980s, Telluride developed a reputation as "Colorado's best-kept secret", which paradoxically made it one of the better-known resort communities. Wealthy skiers flocked to the mountain all winter, and sightseers kept hotel rooms full all summer. Telluride also became notorious in the drug counterculture as a drop point for Mexican smugglers and a favorite place for wealthy importers to enjoy downtime. The town was even featured in the hit song by [[Glenn Frey]] from ''[[Miami Vice]]'', "Smugglers Blues". Telluride was living up to its Wild West history. This type of attention helped differentiate it from [[Aspen, Colorado|Aspen]]. The festivals and Telluride's bad-boy image attracted celebrities like [[Tom Cruise]], [[Oprah Winfrey]], and [[Oliver Stone]]. By the mid-1990s, Telluride had shed both its mining personality and drug image to establish itself as a premier resort town balancing modern culture with fascinating western history. In 2003, Prospect Bowl, an extension to the ski area opened, providing the resort with many new trails and runs. Most lifts in the area are high-speed quad chairs capable of holding four passengers. The highest lift on the mountain reaches {{convert|12570|ft}}.

==Geography==
Telluride has an elevation of {{convert|8750|ft}} in an isolated spot in Southwest Colorado. From the west, Colorado Route 145 is the most common way into Telluride; two other passes enter the town, [[Imogene Pass]] and [[Black Bear Road|Black Bear Pass]].

On the eastern side of town, there are two waterfalls: Ingram Falls, which is visible from town, and [[Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)|Bridal Veil Falls]] and the Bridal Veil Hydroelectric plant, which are just out of sight from town to the right of Ingram. The power plant house was leased for some time by Eric Jacobson, who restored the house and the generator inside. The hydroelectric plant was built in 1895 to power the Smuggler-Union Mine.

The town is served by air transportation via [[Telluride Regional Airport]] (TEX), once the highest elevation commercial airport in the United States at {{convert|9070|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/20/aspen-telluride-airport-landings/|title=Aspen, Telluride make a list of America's most white-knuckle airport landings|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> The airport is considered challenging by pilots because of frequent adverse weather conditions, high elevation, and the extremely rugged mountain terrain surrounding the airport on nearly all sides. Major airline service is provided seasonally into Montrose (MTJ), approximately {{convert|70|mi}} north by road.

===Climate===
Telluride has a [[humid continental climate]] (Dfb). The coldest month is January, averaging {{convert|18.2|F|C}}, and the hottest July, which averages {{convert|58.7|F|C}}. Precipitation peaks as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer with a dry period in late spring. Telluride gets moderate precipitation all year due to its altitude, averaging {{convert|20.37|in|mm|1}} of [[Quantitative precipitation forecast|water equivalent precipitation]], including {{convert|130.8|in|cm|1}} inches of snow, each year.

{{Weather box
|location = Telluride, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 65
|Mar record high F = 73
|Apr record high F = 78
|May record high F = 83
|Jun record high F = 91
|Jul record high F = 96
|Aug record high F = 91
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 83
|Nov record high F = 73
|Dec record high F = 60

|Jan avg record high F = 50.2
|Feb avg record high F = 51.9
|Mar avg record high F = 57.7
|Apr avg record high F = 66.4
|May avg record high F = 73.7
|Jun avg record high F = 82.0
|Jul avg record high F = 85.3
|Aug avg record high F = 82.2
|Sep avg record high F = 78.4
|Oct avg record high F = 70.8
|Nov avg record high F = 61.3
|Dec avg record high F = 51.4
|year avg record high F = 86.0

|Jan high F = 36.2
|Feb high F = 37.6
|Mar high F = 43.7
|Apr high F = 50.8
|May high F = 60.4
|Jun high F = 72.5
|Jul high F = 76.7
|Aug high F = 74.1
|Sep high F = 68.0
|Oct high F = 57.4
|Nov high F = 45.4
|Dec high F = 36.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 18.2
|Feb mean F = 21.5
|Mar mean F = 28.3
|Apr mean F = 36.4
|May mean F = 44.6
|Jun mean F = 53.3
|Jul mean F = 58.7
|Aug mean F = 57.2
|Sep mean F = 50.8
|Oct mean F = 40.4
|Nov mean F = 29.0
|Dec mean F = 19.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 0.3
|Feb low F = 5.3
|Mar low F = 12.9
|Apr low F = 22.0
|May low F = 28.8
|Jun low F = 34.2
|Jul low F = 40.7
|Aug low F = 40.2
|Sep low F = 33.6
|Oct low F = 23.4
|Nov low F = 12.6
|Dec low F = 1.8
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -17.0
|Feb avg record low F = -12.3
|Mar avg record low F = -5.8
|Apr avg record low F = 9.4
|May avg record low F = 19.0
|Jun avg record low F = 26.5
|Jul avg record low F = 32.8
|Aug avg record low F = 33.0
|Sep avg record low F = 22.9
|Oct avg record low F = 10.4
|Nov avg record low F = -7.4
|Dec avg record low F = -15.1
|year avg record low F = -19.7

|Jan record low F = -32
|Feb record low F = -36
|Mar record low F = -24
|Apr record low F = -10
|May record low F = 3
|Jun record low F = 15
|Jul record low F = 26
|Aug record low F = 22
|Sep record low F = 9
|Oct record low F = -3
|Nov record low F = -22
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.45
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.38
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.61
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.71
|May precipitation inch = 1.60
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.37
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.60
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.34
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.56
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.53
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.37
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.6
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.5
|May precipitation days = 9.1
|Jun precipitation days = 5.3
|Jul precipitation days = 12.7
|Aug precipitation days = 14.9
|Sep precipitation days = 11.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.8
|Dec precipitation days = 9.2

|Jan snow inch = 23.6
|Feb snow inch = 22.0
|Mar snow inch = 22.7
|Apr snow inch = 13.1
|May snow inch = 5.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.7
|Oct snow inch = 5.3
|Nov snow inch = 18.7
|Dec snow inch = 19.3
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 9.5
|Feb snow days = 9.2
|Mar snow days = 8.5
|Apr snow days = 6.1
|May snow days = 1.9
|Jun snow days = 0.1
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.3
|Oct snow days = 2.1
|Nov snow days = 6.3
|Dec snow days = 9.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 21.3
|Feb snow depth inch = 23.2
|Mar snow depth inch = 21.5
|Apr snow depth inch = 10.3
|May snow depth inch = 3.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.3
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.3
|Oct snow depth inch = 3.4
|Nov snow depth inch = 9.9
|Dec snow depth inch = 12.8
|year snow depth inch = 26.4

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00058204&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Telluride 4WNW, CO
|access-date = November 15, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 15, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
| 1890= 766
| 1900= 2446
| 1910= 1756
| 1920= 1618
| 1930= 512
| 1940= 1337
| 1950= 1101
| 1960= 677
| 1970= 553
| 1980= 1047
| 1990= 1309
| 2000= 2221
| 2010= 2325
| 2020= 2607
| footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,221 people, 1,013 households, and 357 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3,143.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 1,938 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,742.8|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the town was 92.57% White, 0.81% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.41% African American, 4.14% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.20% of the population.

There were 1,013 households, out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.7% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 14.3% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 50.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 1.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 127.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,938, and the median income for a family was $66,136. Males had a median income of $35,329 versus $30,096 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $38,832. About 8.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those aged 65 or over.[[File:Brunswick Saloon Telluride CO c. 1900.jpg|thumb|Brunswick Saloon, Telluride, circa 1900]]

==Transportation==
Telluride is served by [[Telluride Regional Airport]]. Scheduled flight options are limited, due to the airport's somewhat short runway and frequent closures under bad weather, so most passengers going to Telluride use [[Montrose Regional Airport]], {{convert|67|mi}} to the north.

Free public transportation is provided in Telluride. The bus system, called ''Galloping Goose'', makes a complete loop around the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Galloping Goose Route and Information|url=https://www.telluride-co.gov/255/Galloping-Goose-Route-and-Information |access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref> A gondola lift links Telluride with [[Mountain Village, Colorado|Mountain Village]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gondola - Chondola|url=https://townofmountainvillage.com/explore/getting-around/gondola-chondola/ |access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref>

Telluride's free gondola is the only one of its kind in North America. It stops at four stations: Telluride, St. Sophia, and two stops in Mountain Village.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gondola |url=https://www.telluride.com/discover/the-gondola/ |website=Visit Telluride |publisher=Telluride Tourism Board |access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref> It was the first leg of a transportation agreement for the Telluride Region that was stipulated as part of the Mountain Village zoning expansion that would provide free gondola service from the Town of Telluride and the Mountain Village to the Aldasoro Development, the West Meadows Development, the Valley Floor Development, and the West Meadows Development to virtually eliminate the use or need for a car in the Telluride Region of San Miguel County. It is a 13-minute ride and reaches an elevation of {{convert|10540|ft}} at the San Sophia station.

Regional bus service is provided by the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).

Telluride is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] intercity bus service network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>
;Major highways
*[[File:Colorado 145.svg|25px]] '''[[Colorado State Highway 145|State Highway 145]]''' is part of the [[San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway|San Juan Skyway]]. It connects Telluride to [[Cortez, Colorado|Cortez]] and [[Naturita, Colorado|Naturita]]. This road also gives access to [[Colorado State Highway 62|State Highway 62]], the main route to [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Montrose, Colorado|Montrose]] and other important places in [[Colorado]].

==In popular culture==

[[Clive Cussler]]'s 1998 novel ''[[Atlantis Found]]'' is partially set in Telluride. The novel features signs of an ancient civilization being found in an underground chamber next to a mine outside the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eddy |first1=Mark|title=Fictional Cussler hero back for more |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/books/atlantis1219.htm |website=Denver Post |date=}}</ref>

In Justin Cronin's 2010 novel ''[[The Passage (novel series)|The Passage]]'', Telluride is the site of a secret military compound used to test a purported "longevity drug" on death row inmates.<ref>{{cite book|author=Justin Cronin|title=The Passage: A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hLRAkzKHjIC|date=June 8, 2010|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-345-51686-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kinloch |first1=Adrian |title=The Passage: Excerpt |url=https://www.enterthepassage.com/the-passage-excerpt/ |website=Enter the Passage |date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>

The production of  ''[[The Hateful Eight]]'' directed by [[Quentin Tarantino]] began filming near Telluride in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quentin Tarantino Starts Shooting 'Hateful Eight'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/quentin-tarantino-starts-shooting-hateful-eight-1201413017/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Andy |title=Making of 'Hateful Eight': How Tarantino Braved Sub-Zero Weather and a Stolen Screener |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/making-hateful-eight-how-tarantino-852099/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 7, 2016}}</ref>

The [[Coen brothers]] 2018 film ''[[The Ballad of Buster Scruggs]]'' used Telluride as a filming location for the vignette "All Gold Canyon", based on a short story by [[Jack London]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Filming Locations: Where was The Ballad of Buster Scruggs filmed? |url=https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2018/11/ballad-of-buster-scruggs-filming-locations.html |work=Atlas of Wonders |author=Ra Moon |access-date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Kia Telluride]] SUV is named after the town.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bomey |first=Nathan |title=Why automakers are naming vehicles after American destinations, like Santa Cruz, Telluride, Taos |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/05/23/hyundai-santa-cruz-kia-telluride-vw-taos-vehicle-names/7301830002/ |work=USA Today |date=May 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What Does Telluride Mean? |url=https://www.auffenbergkia.com/manufacturer-information/what-does-telluride-mean/|work=Auffenberg Kia}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Colorado}}
*[[Mountainfilm in Telluride]]
*[[Telluride Daily Planet]]
**[[Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet]]
**[[Telluride Sessions]]
**[[Live at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book| last = Barbour| first = Elizabeth| title = Images of America: Telluride| year = 1999| publisher = Arcadia Publishing| location = San Francisco, Calif.| isbn = 0-7385-4850-2}}
*{{cite book| last = Benjamin| first = Eileen | title = Telluride: Landscapes and Dreams| year = 2000| publisher = Montoya Publishing| location = Telluride, Colo.| isbn = 0-9679986-0-3}}
*{{cite book| last = Buys| first = Christian J.| title = A Brief History of Telluride| year = 2003| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-83-2}}
*{{cite book| last = Buys| first = Christian J.| title = Historic Telluride in Rare Photographs| year = 2006| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-02-6}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.newmont.com/en/pdf/Updates/IdaradoBooklet.pdf |title=The Idarado Legacy |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2006 |publisher=Idorado Mining Company, subsidiary of [[Newmont |Newmont Mining Corporation]] |location=Denver, Colo. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114909/http://www.newmont.com/en/pdf/Updates/IdaradoBooklet.pdf |archive-date=October 30, 2008}}
*{{cite book| last = Lavender| first = David| others = Photography by George H. H. Huey| title = The Telluride Story| year = 1999| publisher = Wayfinder Press| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 0-9608764-6-4}}
*{{cite book| last = Martin| first =  MaryJoy | title = The Corpse on Boomerang Road: Telluride's War on Labor 1899–1908| year = 2004 | publisher = Western Reflections Publishing Company| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-932738-02-9}}
*{{cite book| last = Pera| first = Davine| title = Conversations at 9,000 feet — A Collection of Oral Histories from Telluride, Colorado| year = 2000| publisher = Western Reflections| location = Ouray, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-53-0}}
*{{cite book| last = Richey| first = Duke | others = Illustrated by the children of Telluride Elementary School| title = The mountains are the story: a history of Telluride for children| year = 2000| publisher = Between the Covers Bookstore| location = Telluride, Colo.| isbn = 0-9706361-0-5}}
*{{cite book| last = Smith| first = Duane A.| title = A visit with the Tomboy Bride : Harriet Backus and her friends| year = 2003| publisher = Western Reflections Pub. Co.| location = Montrose, Colo.| isbn = 1-890437-87-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.telluride-co.gov/}}
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}

{{San Miguel County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Protected areas of Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Telluride, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Colorado]]
[[Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)]]
[[Category:Towns in Colorado]]