Grand Lake is a statutory town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 471 at the 2010 census. Established in 1881, Grand Lake sits at an elevation of and derives its name from the lake on whose shores it is situated: Grand Lake, the largest natural body of water in Colorado. The town of Grand Lake was originally an outfitting and supply point for the mining settlements of Lulu City, Teller City, and Gaskill, but today is a tourist destination adjacent to the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, which surrounds the lake and the town on three sides. Grand Lake was the Grand Countyseat of government from 1882-1888. It was incorporated on June 23, 1944.
Geography
Grand Lake is located in northeastern Grand County at . U.S. Route 34 runs through the western side of the town, entering Rocky Mountain National Park just north of town and leading across the mountains to Estes Park. To the southwest, US 34 leads to Granby. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all of it land.
Climate
Due to its elevation, Grand Lake has a subalpine climate with a short growing season, averaging just 49 days per year. Temperatures are chilly at night even through the summer months, and only three months have an average temperature of above.
Grand Lake
is Colorado's largest and deepest natural lake, and is part of the headwaters of the Colorado River. The lake became a component in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project in 1937, when it was recruited as a conduit for C-BT project water. The C-BT project diverts water from the Colorado River Basin east via the Alva B. Adams Tunnel under the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park to the Big Thompson River watershed, thence the South Platte River and ultimately the Mississippi River basin. Grand Lake Yacht Club is a private club that hosts sailing races on the lake, and there are also publicly and privately operated marinas, a public boat ramp, and public boat docks on the lake.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 447 people, 219 households, and 121 families residing in the town. The population density was 472.5 people per square mile. There were 748 housing units at an average density of 790.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.20% White, 0.67% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population. There were 219 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.60. In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 124.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $45,096, and the median income for a family was $55,750. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,676. About 3.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Culture
The Kauffman House is an NRHP-listed rustic log house that functioned as a hotel from its construction in 1892 until 1946. The Grand Lake Area Historical Society purchased the house in 1973 and converted it into a museum as the only pre-20th century log hotel remaining in Grand Lake. Grand Lake is home to the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. This summer stock theatre company produces three Broadway musicals from June through August and one musical in September. In the spring of 2010, a new theatre complex was built for RMRT in Grand Lake.
