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Nestled in the Animas River Valley and surrounded by two million acres of the San Juan National Forest, Durango is a gem in the rough located in La Plata County in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Here the majestic Rocky Mountains meet the serene desert of the Four Corners region where Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado converge. Nature creates a playground of pine forests, aspen groves, lakes, streams and spectacular views around Durango.
In our backyard is Mesa Verde National Park, designated as a World Heritage site for its collection of prehistoric artifacts and cliff dwellings. Durango is situated at 6,512 feet above sea level and has a dry, moderate climate with air and water that is among the purest in the United States. In the nearby mountains, we have our own ski area, Durango Mountain Resort, with natural hot springs in the vicinity.
As our county seat, Durango is a regional hub for commerce. The county population estimate for July, 2004, is 47,173 residents. We are home to a four-year college, regional medical facility, modern commercial airport, and a wide variety of boutiques, specialty shops, galleries and many diverse restaurants. We are proud of our three prominent historic districts: Main Avenue Historic District, East Third Avenue Historic Residential District and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad right-of-way between Durango and Silverton, Colorado. Our mountain scenery and excellent quality of life make it a great place to visit or relocate.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer a leadership program that helps develop the future of Durango.
Leadership La Plata is the leadership skills and broad based community education arm of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Each Year, 16 diverse, civic minded and active community members from throughout the county are selected to participate in this influential program.
Photo of Columbine © Lisa Mackey
