Towaoc, Colorado

Towaoc, Colorado
Census-designated place
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Office Complex in Towaoc.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Office Complex in Towaoc.
Location of the Towaoc CDP in Montezuma County, Colorado
Location of the Towaoc CDP in Montezuma County, Colorado
Coordinates: 37°12′45″N 108°43′35″W / 37.21250°N 108.72639°W / 37.21250; -108.72639[1]
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyMontezuma County[2]
Government
 • Typeunincorporated community
 • BodyMontezuma County[2]
Area
[3]
 • Total
3.585 sq mi (9.284 km2)
 • Land3.585 sq mi (9.284 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.000 km2)
Elevation
[1]
5,912 ft (1,802 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
1,120
 • Density312/sq mi (121/km2)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP Code[4]
81334
Area code970
GNIS CDP ID2409343[1]
FIPS code08-78280

Towaoc[6] is a census-designated place (CDP), a post office, and the capital of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe located on the Ute Mountain Reservation in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The Towaoc post office has the ZIP Code 81334 (post office boxes).[4] At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Towaoc CDP was 1,120.[3]

History

The word towaoc means "thank you" in the Ute language.[7]

The Towaoc, Colorado, post office opened on April 1, 1915.[8] The Ute Mountain Reservation was created on June 6, 1940.[9]

Old Towaoc, located at the base of Ute Mountain, is approximately 2 miles (3 km) west of US Highways 491-160, and includes various tribal and BIA governmental buildings and housing areas, including the tribal offices of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. In recent years, a small complex has been developed directly on US Highway 491–160 at the junction of the road into the original town.

Geography

Towaoc is located east of Sleeping Ute Mountain, a sacred mountain of the Ute people, and northeast of the Four Corners Monument.

At the 2020 United States census, the Towaoc CDP had an area of 2,294 acres (9.284 km2), all land.[3]

Education

Towaoc is served by Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1.

Demographics

Towaoc CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
1990700—    
20001,097+56.7%
20101,087−0.9%
20201,120+3.0%
Source: United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Towaoc CDP for the 1990 United States census.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Towaoc had a population of 1,120. The median age was 28.3 years. 34.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 5.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 78.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 77.5 males age 18 and over.[10][11]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]

There were 347 households in Towaoc, of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 19.6% were married-couple households, 21.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 52.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 371 housing units, of which 6.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%.[10]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[11]
RaceNumberPercent
White60.5%
Black or African American40.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native1,08296.6%
Asian00.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander20.2%
Some other race40.4%
Two or more races222.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)312.8%

2000 census

Languages (2000)[13]Percent
Spoke English at home47.18%
Spoke Ute dialect at home45.99%
Spoke Navajo at home5.31%
Spoke Spanish at home1.08%
Spoke Cheyenne at home0.43%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Towaoc, Colorado
  2. 1 2 "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Look Up a ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ Eichler, Geo. R. (1977). Colorado Place Names. Boulder: Johnson Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-933472-26-6.
  6. ↑ Pronounced /tɔɪɔːk/ ⓘ.[5]
  7. ↑ TikTok. Rocky Mountain PBS https://www.tiktok.com/@rmpbs/video/7552937031777799479. Retrieved September 22, 2025. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; Willard, John H. (1990). Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989. Golden, Colorado: Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation. ISBN 0-918654-42-4.
  9. ↑ Ute Mountain Tribe (June 6, 1940). "Constitution and Bylaws of the Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah". Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Data Center Results".
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