The Cities and communities of Alamosa County, Colorado*

Alamosa (County Seat), Alamosa East
Estrella
Hartner, Henry, Hooper
La Fruto
Mosca
Parma
Waverly

*This list of cities may not be complete. The list may contain towns, cities, villages, boroughs, townships, ghost towns and other populated places.

If you have information about any of these unlinked communities, please send it to us and we will add a page for that community. Some of these places above may only be neighborhoods or local area names and are not listed with the census at all or just included in a larger surrounding designated census area..

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Information & Facts about Alamosa County, Colorado

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Alamosa County Official Website
8900 Independence Way
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719-589-484

City of Alamosa
425 4th St.
P.O. Box 419
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719-589-2593

Alamosa is the county seat

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Population:

1920 - 5,148
1930 - 8,602
1940 - 10,484
1950 - 10,531
1960 - 10,000
1970 - 11,422
1980 - 11,799
1990 - 13,617
2000 - 14,966
2003 - 15,545
2005 - 15,282

Density:
2000 - 20.7 persons per square mile

Median age:
2000 - 30.6 years

The number of housing units was:
1990 - 2,874
2000 - 6,088

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Location:

Alamosa County is in south-central Colorado in the San Luis Valley. It is the largest alpine valley in the world. The valley is surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Range to the east and the San Juan Range to the west with high mountain peaks adding to the beauty of the area.

Neighboring Counties include:
North - Saguache County

East - Huerfano County
South & East - Costilla County
Southwest - Conejos County
West - Rio Grande County

Alamosa County is located in the Mountain Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.

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Climate:

moderate with nice summers and cold winters. There are about 350 days of sunshine each year with most of the precipitation falling from April until October. Thunderstorms are common during the summer months. Snow is generally light but during the middle of winter, it will stick on the ground for extended periods.

Average Annual Precipitation:
7.1 inches at Alamosa
11.1 inches at the Great Sand Dunes

Average Annual Snowfall:
32.7 inches at Alamosa
40.1 inches at the Great Sand Dunes

winter high temperatures: 34.3 degrees F.
winter low temperature: -2.1 degrees F.
summer high temperature: 81.9 degrees F.
summer low temperature: 47.4 degrees F.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Per capita income:
2000 - $23,573

Median household income:
2000 - $29,447
2002 - $30,427

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History:

Alamosa County was carved from Northeastern Costilla County on 8 March 1913.

Though Native American cultures were present for thousands of years, the discovery of gold and silver in 1870 is what brought people and settlements to the area. Once here, they remained and began to farm and ranch. The coming of the railroad also increased the number of new settlers. Zebulon Pike explored the area in 1807 and was particularly interested in the Sand Dunes. The area wasn't really settled permanently until about the mid-1800's. In 1878, the new railroad made a stop near a grove of cottonwoods, leaving behind a group of new settlers and their things. The name, Alamosa, is Spanish for cottonwood grove. The new little settlement was named for the grove of trees. Soon more settlers came and tracks were put down spreading out in all directions from the town. Alamosa became a center for commerce and trade in the valley.

A history page for Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.

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Geography:

The Famous Rio Grande River has its origins in the San Juan Mountains and flows through the San Juan Valley on its way south and east.

Land Area: 723 square miles
Water Area: 1 square mile
Total Area: 724 square miles

Elevation:
7,544 at Alamosa
8,120 at the Great Sand Dunes

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Genealogy:

Kindred Trails genealogy page for Alamosa County
US GenWeb genealogy page for the County
Linkpendium page for Alamosa County
Genealogy Trails page for Alamosa County
Cemeteries of Alamosa County
The Political Graveyard for Alamosa County

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Libraries:

Southern Peaks Public Library
423 4th Street
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719-589-6592

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Schools:

Adams State College
Alamosa, CO 81102
Phone: (719) 587-7011

Trinidad State Junior College - Alamosa Campus
1011 Main STreet
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719-589-7000

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Economy:

Alamosa is the most diverse economically in the area with a well-rounded economic base of agriculture, services, tourism and regional goods and services. Overall, the primary economic factor in the county is Agribusiness. Largest crops are wheat, barley, hay, potatoes and oats. Cattle and food processing are also part of the Agribusiness here.

Upper Rio Grande Economic Development Council
Providing opportunity to the San Luis Valley

San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center
610 State Avenue, Suite 120
Alamosa, CO 81102
Phone: 719-587-5151

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Organizations & Groups

Alamosa Convention and Visitors Bureau
601 State Avenue
Alamosa, CO 81101
Toll-free: 800-BLU-SKYS

Alamosa Chamber of Commere
300 Chamber Dr.
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 800-BLU-SKYS

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Attractions & Other Information

See some great pictures of the area.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument
11500 Highway 150
Mosca, Co 81146
Phone: 719-378-2312

Alamosa/Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Complex
US Fish and Wildlife Service
9383 El Rancho Lane
Alamosa, Colorado 81101
Phone: 719-589-4021

Colorado Alligator Farm
9162 County Road 9 North
Mosca, Colorado 81146 Phone: 719-378-2612

Learn all about Alamosa

San Luis Lakes State Park
P O Box 150 Mosca, CO 81146

Alamosa Regional Airport - also known as Bergman Field, is a public airport located two miles (3 km) south of the business district of Alamosa. The airport covers 1,700 acres (688 ha) and has two runways. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline.

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This page was last updated on 14 June 2012 at 3:34 pm

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