kids encyclopedia robot

Marble, Colorado facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Town of Marble, Colorado
Blocks of cut marble at the historic quarry in Marble
Blocks of cut marble at the historic quarry in Marble
Location of Marble in Gunnison County, Colorado.
Location of Marble in Gunnison County, Colorado.
Country  United States
State  Colorado
County Gunnison
Incorporated 1899
Government
 • Type Statutory Town
Area
 • Total 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
 • Land 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
8,009 ft (2,441 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 133
 • Density 369/sq mi (143.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
81623
Area code(s) 970
FIPS code 08-48555
GNIS feature ID 2412952

The Town of Marble is a Statutory Town in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 133 at the 2020 United States Census.

History

The Town of Marble was first incorporated in 1899. Marble remains a statutory town of the State of Colorado today.

The quarry

The town is the location of a historic Yule Marble quarry along the mountains that began operations in the late 19th century, and from which the town draws its name. It has been used for the Tomb of the Unknowns, as well as for parts of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and civic buildings in San Francisco. It was also used for the construction of the Equitable Building, a historically important early skyscraper in New York City.

The marble of the quarry is considered to be of exceptional quality, praised as one of the purest marbles ever quarried and a rival to classical Italian and Greek marble. It is nearly pure calcite marble with minor inclusions of mica, quartz, and feldspar, and has irregularly shaped calcite grains ranging from 100 to 600 micrometers in diameter. According to physical tests of the marble, its strength is comparable to marble typically used in building construction.

The quarry has enjoyed a renaissance since its acquisition in 2004 by Polycor, a Canadian-based dimension stone company, and subsequent sale to Italian group R.E.D. Graniti S.p.A. In spite of significant transportation costs, this high-quality stone is now exported in large quantities to Europe and Asia for transformation and use throughout the world, as well as being sold into the US market.

Tourism

In the late 20th century and the 21st century, Marble has become a summer tourist destination. It is also the gateway to the nearby Crystal townsite. It is the site of the Marble/marble sculpting symposium held every summer since 1988.

Seven sites within Marble have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all of it land.

The community is located in a valley of the upper Crystal River along the Elk Mountains, accessible by a paved road from State Highway 133. Unlike most of Gunnison County, the town is located on the north side of Schofield Pass which is inaccessible to most cars and thus is separated geographically from the rest of Gunnison County.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 101
1910 782 674.3%
1920 81 −89.6%
1930 217 167.9%
1940 240 10.6%
1950 8 −96.7%
1960 5 −37.5%
1970 13 160.0%
1980 30 130.8%
1990 64 113.3%
2000 105 64.1%
2010 131 24.8%
2020 133 1.5%

Education

Marble Charter School (MCS) is a public, tuition-free charter school located in Marble. The school serves K-8 students in the Crystal River Valley.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Marble (Colorado) para niños

kids search engine
Marble, Colorado Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.