SILVERTON – In the shadows of the San Juan Mountains, the town of Silverton celebrated its 150th anniversary Sunday.
From the ruckus of the mechanical bull south of Anesi Park to the splatter of whipped cream from the town’s new mayor, Dayna Kranker, taking a pie to the face, it was all fun and games for the small mountain town.
You have to be a little different to live here, said Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director DeAnne Gallegos.
Gallegos wears many hats in the town of Silverton, whether it be the chamber executive director or the spokeswoman for San Juan County. She also ran Chocolate Dog Boutique and Dessert Dogs BARKery & Boutique in Silverton before taking on those roles.
Life is changing for the small mountain town post-pandemic. Mainly, its population is growing with a younger demographic calling it home.
“This is the biggest boom of residents since the mines closed in the ’90s. Really, it just kind of means that we’re still vibrant,” Gallegos said.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Silverton had a population of 622. Gallegos said the population is now over 800 with many of its new, full-time residents made up of young families.
“Our goal is more around 1,500 but we’ve just seen, especially since the pandemic, the largest growth in population (in recent years).” Gallegos said. “That being said, it’s been a lot of young families, full-timers. We kind of thought it was going to be second-homers, but that hasn’t really been the case.”
Silverton’s beginnings date back before Colorado became a state in 1876.
Silverton was born in the midst of the Western mining boom, when prospectors, led by Charles Baker, came to the rugged San Juan Mountains seeking riches. The town’s origins date back to the discovery of silver in the region, part of a broader rush in the 1870s that lured fortune-seekers westward.
In 1874, Silverton was officially established and quickly became the central hub for surrounding mining camps. The town’s growth soon caught the attention of a Denver railroad company. In July 1882, the first train from Durango, operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, arrived in Silverton, marking a new era of prosperity.
By 1883, the town had grown to a population of 2,000 and boasted 400 buildings, including two banks, five laundries, numerous hotels, 29 saloons and the infamous red-light district on Blair Street, according to the Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce.
But like many old mining towns, Silverton’s economy now relies heavily on tourism.
Summer events like the Fourth of July fireworks show, Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run and Memorial Day outdoor recreation drive the small business economy.
In addition, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad brings thousands of tourists from Durango to Silverton each summer. The area is also known for its expert skiing terrain and backcountry skiing.
But like other tourism economies, town officials must figure out a way for residents to live affordably and look at infrastructural needs.
In 2022, the town published its Silverton Compass Master Plan, which focused on updating town infrastructure, strengthening the local economy, evaluating responsible land-use growth and looking at how to develop affordable housing for residents.
According to Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, 83% of Silverton jobs are in base industries. Base analysis distinguishes which industries are responsible for overall growth and change. In San Juan County, the largest base employment industries are tourism, and households spend money earned elsewhere.
“I don’t presume to have all of the experience or presume to have all the answers, but I think building on the history and story that we have (is important) – that’s why I think something like the 150th is so special, because you have people here who have direct connections to those generations,” said Kranker, who took over as mayor in April.
During her first five months in the position, she spoke with community members about the town’s past and what could be its future.
She said residents have told her stories about when the town had enough people where the school had a basketball team or when there were more businesses and restaurants in town.
“We have this challenge with being 600- to 700-year-round residents – we don’t always have all the people that we need to do the things we want to do,” she said.
For her, that’s looking at how to create an environment where residents can live and start a family, set up a business or contribute to the community in some fashion.
The town’s 150th birthday serves as a reminder as to the culture of the town.
San Juan County District No. 2 Commissioner Scott Fetchenhier is a fourth-generation Silverton resident. The San Juan County official was elected in 2012 but moved to Silverton in 1980 to work in the mines.
“The mines and mills were the big employers and mining lasted until 1991 when the mine shut down,” he said. “This town has weathered the ups and downs of the mining industry with good years and bad years, financial panics, fall of metal prices, strikes, world wars, but it’s always been resilient and survived because of the hardworking people who lived here.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
