Meeker, Colorado
| Town of Meeker, Colorado | |
|---|---|
| Statutory Town | |
Aerial view of Meeker
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| Motto: The river runs through it. | |
 Location in Rio Blanco County and the state of Colorado |
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| Coordinates: 40°2′22″N 107°54′39″W / 40.03944°N 107.91083°WCoordinates: 40°2′22″N 107°54′39″W / 40.03944°N 107.91083°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 State of Colorado
|
| County | Rio Blanco (County seat) |
| Founded | 1883 |
| Incorporated | 1885-11-10 |
| Named for | Nathan Meeker |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| • Mayor | Regis Halandras |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km2) |
| • Land | 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,240 ft (1,902 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,475 |
| • Density | 705.4/sq mi (272.7/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 81641 |
| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-49875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0173407 |
| Website | Town of Meeker |
The Town of Meeker is the Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2475 at the 2010 United States Census. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64, on the north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town.
The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. The site of the massacre, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley east of town and is marked by a prominent sign. None of the buildings remain.
After the massacre and the ensuing conflict known as the Ute War, in 1880 the US Congress passed legislation requiring the Ute population to relocate to reservations in Utah. The United States Army established a garrison on the current site of the town, called the Camp at White River. The town was founded in 1883 following the removal of the troops. The White River Museum is located just north of the Rio Blanco County Courthouse and housed in several original wooden structures of the Army garrison.
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