Nathrop, Colorado

Nathrop is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 288 at the 2020 census. The Nathrop post office has the ZIP code 81236.

History
Nathrop was named for Charles Nachtrieb, owner of the townsite. In 1880, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad built through Nathrop as part of their Tennessee Pass line. The tracks were placed out of service in 1997, but Union Pacific, present-day owner of the line, may reach an agreement to reopen it.

Geography
The Nathrop CDP has an area of 1.873 km2, all land.

Ruby Mountain
Ruby Mountain is a rhyolite outcrop located about one mile northeast of Nathrop. Small spessartite garnet crystals are found throughout the outcropping. Small pebbles of black obsidian referred to as "Apache tears" by collectors can also be found in the talus rock at the base of the cliffs.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau defined the Nathrop CDP for the United States Census 2020.

Attractions

 * Alpine Tunnel
 * Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
 * Browns Canyon National Monument
 * Mount Princeton
 * San Isabel National Forest
 * St. Elmo