The Town of New Castle is a home rule municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,923 at the 2020 census.

History

When New Castle was incorporated in 1888, its economy was largely based on mining coal that was needed by the silver-mining industry to fire silver smelters. On February 18, 1896, a methane explosion in the Vulcan Mine killed 49 men and started a coal fire that was still burning as of 2020. The Vulcan reopened and suffered additional explosions on December 12, 1913 (killing 37) and November 4, 1918 (killing 3). There are at least 25 coal fires burning near the town. They are normally confined underground. From 2000 - 2014 the population grew 129%, much higher than the average growth in Colorado over the same period (20.8%).

Geography

New Castle is located on the north side of the Colorado River, just east of where the river cuts through the Grand Hogback. Interstate 70 passes by the town following the river, with access from Exit 105. I-70 leads east 12 mi to Glenwood Springs, the county seat, east 169 mi to Denver, and west 74 mi to Grand Junction. U.S. Route 6 is Main Street in New Castle and forms a parallel route to I-70 for local traffic. US-6 joins I-70 5 mi to the east at Chacra and 17 mi to the west at a point west of Rifle. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.0 km2, of which 6.9 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 1.21%, is water.

Demographics

Education

New Castle is within Garfield Re-2 School District. The town is home to two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school: