About Durango
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 2010, is 54,837 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.

CLICK HERE to print a PDF version of our Community Profile/Relocation Guide
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History
The Anasazi Indians were the first settlers in the Four Corners area. They mysteriously vanished around 1300 AD. Next were the Navajo and Ute Indians, claiming western Colorado as their home in the 16th century. The Spanish explorers visited the area in 1776, naming the river upon which Durango is located, Rio de Las Animas Perdidas, the River of Lost Souls, now called the Animas. Former territorial governor, AC Hunt, named the area Durango, after Durango, Mexico, a name meaning “water town.” Durango was not founded as a result of pioneers looking for gold, but by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, which decided to build a depot 1.5 miles south of Animas City, then a bustling town of 300 people. The first stake was driven in 1880. Except for a few small stores, restaurants and saloons, Durango was mainly a box tent town. A narrow gauge steam engine connected the mining town of Silverton with the coal and smelter operations in Durango. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad remains in operation today as a popular tourist attraction. Durango reflects three cultures, Anglo, Hispanic and Native American.

Climate & Location
Durango enjoys an ideal four season climate with moderate temperatures year-round.
Winters are mostly mild and sunny. Winter snowfall is an average of 71" a year, but because of low elevation and great solar exposure (300 days of sunshine per year) snow removal is only an occasional chore of manageable size. At higher elevations, like Durango Mountain Resort, snowfall averages 250" per year. 
Springtime brings warmer weather with rain (annual precipitation of 19" per year) to brighten up greening lawns and high country meadows. 
During summer, temperatures seldom reach more than the high 80s and then just for a week or two. Rivers and reservoirs stay relatively full in summer, due to deep snow accumulation in the surrounding mountains.
Fall days are cool and dry, perfect for a mountain hike or drive to see the golden aspen and red-orange scrub oak.

Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Low (F)
10.5
16.0
22.6
29.2
35.5
42.0
50.0
49.0
41.0
31.3
21.5
13.0

High (F)
39.5
44.7
51.8
61.2
70.2
80.6
85.0
83.1
83.1
65.5
52.1
41.3

Snow (inches)
16.9"
14.2"
10.5"
3.4"
0.5"
0.0"
0.0"
0.0"
0.0"
1.1"
5.5"
16.3"

Rain (inches)
1.62"
1.49"
1.68"
1.35"
1.12"
0.80"
1.95"
0.0"
0.0"
1.92"
1.33"
1.74"

LOCATION
Durango is located in La Plata County in the southwest corner of Colorado. Located in the Animas River Valley and surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, Durango is close to the Four Corners area, where Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona meet. The city of Durango comprises 4.37 square miles, while La Plata County is 1,700 square miles. 

Distance to Major Cities (in miles) 
Albuquerque- 215
Denver- 350
Grand Junction- 169
Phoenix- 461
Santa Fe- 216
Salt Lake City- 413

ALTITUDE
Our high altitude affects each individual differently. Avoid altitude sickness by drinking plenty of water, eating light meals that are high in carbohydrates and going easy on the strenuous exercise for the first couple of days. Common symptoms of altitude sickness are headaches, nausea and dizziness. Your body will gradually adjust to the altitude and these symptoms will eventually disappear. 

Elevation
6512 ft.

Latitude
37 degrees 16N

Longitude
107 degrees 62W

Parks & Trails Map

Recreation
The City of Durango offers residents an ambitious and comprehensive recreation program with activities for every age group. More than 100 different programs are offered, ranging from alpine skiing to arts and crafts. Included are swimming lessons for infants, drama programs for children, softball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer for youth and adults, programs for the handicapped, and activities for senior citizens.
The Parks and Recreation Department operates Chapman Hill ski area and its ice and roller skating rink. It also offers outdoor activities at the Fort Lewis Recreational Complex, operates the Senior Center, and the Mason Center.
The state-of-the-art Durango Community Recreation Center opened in early January 2002 and includes lap and recreational swimming pools, gym, fitness center, dance studio, and more.
The city has 32 parks spread over more than 193 acres of developed park land. Most of the parks feature picnic facilities, playgrounds, skateboard facility, fishing areas, bicycle and foot trails, and open space. Several parks sit along the Animas River, including Whitewater Park, a popular area for kayak racing events known for its nation-wide competitions.
The Fort Lewis Recreation Complex, built by Parks and Recreation and located at Fort Lewis College, provides playing fields for softball and soccer. For Parks and Recreation information call (970) 375-7300, or visit: http://co-durango.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=222.
Durango is also known as a road and mountain biking Mecca. It is the home of the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, site of the 1990 World Mountain Bike Championships, and the 2001 World Cup.
Winter brings other outdoor activities from skiing and snowshoeing to snowmobiling. The region’s reputation for hiking and fly-fishing has expanded to a year-round activity. For more information contact Durango Mountain Resort at (970) 247-9000, or the San Juan Mountain Association at (970) 385-1312.
The art, music, and theater scene embraces dozens of galleries and community supported arts. For more information on upcoming performances at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, visit www.durangoconcerts.com. For more information regarding the local art community contact the Durango Arts Center at (970) 259-2606 or visit www.durangoarts.org.


Durango in the News
Bicycle Friendly Community gives Durango gold status.
USA TODAY named Rapp Corral 10 great places to go horseback riding.
Top 35 companies to work for in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine named Alpine Bank #5 and CH2M Hill #14
Mercy Regional Medical Center is listed in the March 2010 issue of Consumer Report magazine as a top performing Colorado hospital in preventing central-line-related bloodstream infections among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

EPA honors Durango as a "Green Power Community". Collective purchase of Green Power through LPEA ranks community #12 in the U.S.

Consumer Report, a nationally recognized advocacy & rating firm ranked Animas Surgical Hospital #1 and Mercy Regional Medical Hospital tied for #4, 52 of 56 Colorado hospitals participated.

Money Magazine name Durango, CO one of 6 terrific towns on the water