Morrison, Colorado
| Town of Morrison, Colorado | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Town of Morrison with Red Rocks amphitheater in background
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| Motto: The Nearest Faraway Place | |
 Location in Jefferson County and the state of Colorado |
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| Coordinates: 39°39′6″N 105°11′25″W / 39.65167°N 105.19028°WCoordinates: 39°39′6″N 105°11′25″W / 39.65167°N 105.19028°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 State of Colorado
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| County | Jefferson County |
| Incorporated | January 29, 1906 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home Rule Municipality |
| • Mayor | Sean Forey |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| • Land | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,764 ft (1,757 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 430 |
| • Density | 195.5/sq mi (75.4/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 80465 |
| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-52075 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0182140 |
| Website | Town of Morrison |
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 430 at the 2000 census. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is located nearby.
This small foothills settlement is named after George Morrison (April 16, 1822 – June 11, 1895), a builder and businessman who left a mark not only on the town that now bears his name, but on the history of the entire area. A stonemason who immigrated to the Mt. Vernon area in 1859, he helped found the Town of Mt. Vernon and built the Mt. Vernon House, seat of the territorial government under Robert Steele, and an important stop for travelers on the Mt. Vernon Toll Road from Denver to the goldfields of the Rocky Mountains. He became a United States citizen on May 22, 1862. George Morrison later moved south to Bear Creek, where he founded the Morrison Stone, Lime, and Town Co., and in 1874 platted the town that became known as Morrison, or briefly as Mt. Morrison. With Gov. John Evans, he was instrumental in bringing the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad to Morrison in 1874.
As a quarryman, Morrison developed the building stone and other industrial stone (lime, gypsum) of the Morrison/Mt. Vernon area, bringing fame to the region for its high-quality dimension stone. Two of the three stone buildings he built in Morrison, as well as the Mt. Vernon House further north, are still standing; all three surviving buildings are recognized historic sites (National Register of Historic Places, 1976). Before its demolition in 1982, the original Evergreen Hotel, built by George Morrison in 1874, served as the first home of Sacred Heart College (now Regis University), and later as the Mt. Morrison Casino, where John Brisben Walker entertained many of the dignitaries he brought to the foothills as part of his promotional enterprises. The Morrison Schoolhouse he built served the town’s educational needs from its construction in 1875 until 1955, and stands today as a private residence. The Cliff House, built as the Morrison family home in 1873, now provides guest lodging.
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