Central City, Colorado

Central City is the county seat of Gilpin County, Colorado. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 515. During the Colorado Gold Rush gold in paying quantities was discovered and by 1860 the population was 60,000. Many thousands of ethnic Chinese lived in Central City during the early days working the placer deposits of Gregory Gulch. They were forbidden work in the underground mines. Most of them are believed to have returned to China after making their stake.

Related Topics:
County seat - Gilpin County, Colorado - 2000 - Colorado Gold Rush - Gold - 1860 - Ethnic Chinese - China

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In its heyday to mark its success Central City commissioned an opera house from the noted Colorado architect Robert Saur Roeschlaub. The Central City Opera House continues to provide entertainment during the summer. Another Central City attaction is the Teller House with its Face on the Barroom Floor.

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In time the mines played out and the population of Central City and its sister city Blackhawk fell to a few hundred by the 1950s. Casino gambling has been introduced recently with more success in Blackhawk than in Central City. In 2004 Central City completed a four-lane, 8.4-mile parkway from Interstate 70 to Central City, allowing visitors to bypass Blackhawk http://www.centralcityhighway.com/pdfs/onepagebrochure.pdf.

Related Topics:
Blackhawk - 1950s

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