Arapaho Chief Lone Bear in the late 1800s. Photo courtesy Denver Public Library.

The settlement of Oak Creek in the early 1900s. Photo courtesy Historical Society of Oak Creek and Tracks and Trails Museum.

By 1915, immigrants who labored in the coal mines brought the area to almost 2,000 residents. From the 1920s through the '40s, Oak Creek was Routt County’s most populated town. 

A decrescendo of local mining due to market and supply shifts changed the tides. Though an active coal mine, Twentymile Mine, is still operated by Peabody Coal, Oak Creek’s population fell. Meanwhile, nearby Steamboat Springs solidified its status as a ski resort town and tourist center, creating a work force demand.

In 2020, Oak Creek registered 889 residents, while Steamboat Springs counted 13,390.

As Rocky Mountain PBS reported recently, the rising cost of living within the greater Yampa Valley has led to more people and families relocating to Oak Creek to obtain lower rental costs.

According to the Rocky Mountain PBS report by Alison Berg, about 80% of Oak Creek residents now work 16 miles north in Steamboat Springs. Many keep restaurants and hotels staffed, then return to Oak Creek for the night.
 

Today, a grocery store, two bars, a few restaurants and a coffee shop are among Oak Creek’s Main Street businesses. 

Local leaders and historians are weaving Oak Creek’s rich mining and ranching narrative into the town’s planning efforts. As the population of Oak Creek grows once again, officials say striking a balance between welcoming new growth and holding on to a hometown identity is paramount — and the task is not always easy.

The town's local businesses are supported by this growth -- and also contribute to the hometown feel. Lupita’s Cantina, for one, is open seasonally, serving tacos with house-made hot sauce. 

The historic Oak Creek Tavern has served as a social gathering site and meeting place for decades. 

Oak Creek Tavern proprietor Skyler McKinley.

Main Street businesses like Sascha’s Seasonings enliven the town and contribute to a burgeoning local economy. 

Sascha’s Seasonings co-owner Brooke Stanger.  

Community events are a big deal in Oak Creek — and Labor Day is an important part of its history. Each September, residents and visitors celebrate the town’s mining work force and commemorate worker’s rights with a parade and weekend-long celebration. 

Oak Creek Labor Day celebration of 1911. Photo courtesy Historical Society of Oak Creek and Tracks and Trails Museum.

Left: Oak Creek resident Mary Alice Paige-Allen stands beside the town’s namesake waterway. Right: The Yampa River flowing through Steamboat Springs.  

And here in Oak Creek, outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the beauty of Routt National Forest. The water of Oak Creek begins high in the mountains, flows through the town of its namesake, then eventually joins the Yampa River downstream. The Yampa River is the largest free-flowing river in Colorado, flowing to join the Colorado River — one of the west’s major waterways. 

Kate Perdoni reported and photographed and is the Engagement Journalism Director at Rocky Mountain PBS. kateperdoni@rmpbs.org.

Alison Berg contributed reporting and is a Multimedia Journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. alisonberg@rmpbs.org.