City On The Edge Of Self-Deprecation

There's plenty in life that needs being taken seriously.  But even the most serious amongst us have to have those moments  where they can laugh at themselves for something they've said and/or done in a moment of being 'human'.  Indeed, it never hurts to find things to laugh at yourself about.

So when a community can do so, well...

I've worked in Central City, Colorado, for many years.  Small town.  Former mining town.  It's seen its share of booms and busts.

It's a town that's had kind of a 'love-hate' relationship with the latest "gold rush" for the local economy:  gaming.  From the time that the state of Colorado voters approved a ballot initiative in 1990 -- and limited stakes gaming opened up in Central City, neighboring Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek, west of Colorado Springs -- residents have loved the civic improvements that gaming revenue has brought to the town.  But not EVERYTHING that gaming has brought to the town.

Which has been, and will be again, another subject for another time and place.

My focus here is on one particular sign that is posted in Central City.  One that visitors, tourists, passers-through, usually like to stop and take note of when driving through historical areas.  Signs that mark historical places, historical events and local factoids of interest.

This sign is kinda like that.  And yet, not like one I've seen much of, here or anywhere else.

I haven't done a lot of research on the sign as yet; I only noticed it earlier this week.  It doesn't jump out at you.  It's easy to miss, driving down Gregory Street, on the way to Black Hawk, and either back toward Denver, or on up Colorado 119 to the Roosevelt National Forest, and on north towards Boulder.

I don't know who is behind putting it up; I was told that it went up in the summer of 2011.

This sign is meant to be a factoid snapshot of Central City.  One with an eye toward some good-natured municipal education and self-deprecation.  Here's what the sign reads like:

Central City
County Seat of Gilpin County

- Founded                                 1859
- Elevation                                8496
- Mile High                                 1.6
- Area (Rich Square Miles)       2.5
- Pop.                                          663
- Average IQ                              101
- Houses of Worship                    3
- Gambling Houses                      7
- Bears                                          4 (in 2012, 3 more may have joined the club)
- Bars                                           19
- Faces On Barroom Floor           1
- Opera Houses                            1
- Museums & Galleries               5
- Newspapers                                1
- Breweries                                   1
- Troublemakers                           3
- Big Shots                                    0
Total                                       11,168.1

Yep...that's what the sign reads.  And yeah, that's what it totals up to.

Gotta like a town that can laugh at itself.  When I go back to work, I'll get a photo of the sign.  It's simple.  And priceless.