Fondis, Colorado

Fondis, Colorado
Fondis
Location of Fondis, Colorado.
Fondis
Fondis (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°12′57″N 104°20′50″W / 39.2158°N 104.3472°W / 39.2158; -104.3472 (Fondis, Colorado)[2]
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyElbert[1]
Elevation6,175 ft (1,882 m)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code[3]
Elbert 80106
Area codes303/720/983
GNIS place ID193211

Fondis is a ghost town located in Elbert County, Colorado, United States.[4] Fondis is a part of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The Fondis, Colorado, post office operated from November 25, 1895, until July 15, 1954.[5] Ella Cox was the town's first postmaster.[6] The Elbert, Colorado, post office (ZIP code 80106) now serves the area.[3] One historical account states that the unincorporated town derived its name from Fondi, in Italy,[7] while other accounts state that it is named for an Italian Hotel, the Fondide Italia.[8] Around the turn of the twentieth century, the town had a population of 40 people and boasted several stores, including Harper's General Store operated by George Conarroe, two blacksmith shops and the Fondis Hotel, owned and operated by Will Conarroe. He also operated a cheese factory that turned out 250 pounds of cheese per day.[6][8] For 10 weeks in 1902, Fred A. Coan operated the Fondis Herald newspaper.[9]

Geography

Fondis is located in Elbert County at coordinates 39°12′57″N 104°20′50″W / 39.2158°N 104.3472°W / 39.2158; -104.3472 (Fondis, Colorado) and elevation 6,175 feet (1,882 m).[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Fondis, Colorado". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fondis, Colorado
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b "Douglas County News". December 9, 1965.
  7. ^ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 22.
  8. ^ a b "Douglas County News". No. 40. July 6, 1978.
  9. ^ "Castle Rock Journal". June 20, 1902.