Durango, Colorado


Durango is the home rule city that is the county seat of and the most populous municipality of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 19,071 at the 2020 United States census. Durango is the home of Fort Lewis College.

History

The town was organized from September 1880 to April 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad as part of their efforts to reach Silverton, Colorado, and service the San Juan mining district, the goal of their "San Juan Extension" built from Alamosa, Colorado. The D&RG chose a site in the Animas Valley close to the Animas River near what is now the Downtown Durango Historic Business District for its railroad facilities following a brief and most likely perfunctory negotiation with the other establishment in the area known as Animas City, to the north. The city was named by ex-Colorado Governor Alexander C. Hunt, a friend of D&RG President William Jackson Palmer, after Durango, Mexico, based on his favorable impression of that city resulting from a scouting trip undertaken on behalf of Palmer.
The Durango, Colorado, post office opened on November 19, 1880, and the Town of Durango was incorporated on April 27, 1881.
Palmer, among other D&RG associates such as William Bell, started a subsidiary company known as the Durango Trust to sell land and plan a Main Street, 2nd, and 3rd Avenue, and so on to organize the town, taking inspiration from how Palmer founded the city of Colorado Springs. Sales from the Durango Trust skyrocketed by the completion of the D&RG's Silverton Branch, and by 1885, Durango's business district had seven hotels and restaurants, eleven saloons, dance halls and stores, two bakeries and blacksmith shops, and a variety of other businesses, also boosting the town of Silverton's population to 2,000 at the time.
The D&RG and the Rio Grande Southern Railroad were vital resources to many places, including Durango, before the major introduction of the automobile, helping transport goods such as produce and mineral traffic in and out of the Southwestern Colorado area, and along with other businesses such as the Durango Smelter, immensely supporting the town's economy. However, the Great Depression and aftermath of World War II hurt the area's railroad industry. The Rio Grande Southern lost its contract to transport mail in 1951, and soon thereafter suspended operations. The D&RGW also ended their San Juan Express passenger service from Durango to Alamosa. However, the natural scenery along their Silverton Branch had been recognized as a major tourist attraction. In turn, the D&RGW introduced the major tourism industry into the Durango area, transporting visitors up to Silverton and back and attracting Hollywood into La Plata County for a time. Once the D&RGW ended up losing its freight traffic in 1968, the tracks from Durango east to Chama, New Mexico, and south to Farmington, New Mexico, were removed, but the Silverton Branch remained in operation until 1981 when it was sold and became the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
There are significant archaeological sites surrounding the Durango area featured on the State and National historical registers, including:

Geography

At the 2020 United States census, the town had a total area of, including of water.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Durango has a mediterranean-influenced humid continental climate.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 13,922 people, 5,492 households, and 2,603 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 5,819 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 86.8% White, 0.5% African American, 5.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 10.3% of the population.
There were 5,492 households, out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a single female householder, and 52.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city, 16.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 26.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,892, and the median income for a family was $50,814. Males had a median income of $31,812 versus $25,022 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,352. 17.2% of the population and 7.3% of families were living below the poverty line. 11.2% of those younger than 18 and 8.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

Main Avenue

is a Nationally Registered Historic District that cuts through downtown Durango and is home to galleries, boutiques, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. Two notable and historic hotels, the General Palmer and the Strater, lie at the south end of the avenue, near the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot. With its combination of historic architecture, entertainment, and shopping, Main Avenue has historically comprised the center of Durango and is a popular year-round tourist destination.

Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad

Durango is known worldwide for the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad, a heritage railroad that operates what was the Denver & Rio Grande Western's Branchline to the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado, also still notably using historic D&RGW Steam Locomotives and other historic rail equipment.

Snowdown Festival

Durango is home to Snowdown, an annual midwinter event popular for its Parade of Lights and other events. Since 1983, each year's festival has been given a unique theme. The event lasts 5 days, with competitions and costumes.

Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival

The annual Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival features noted musicians from around the country. It is held in the Strater Hotel, a historic Victorian hotel in Durango. It is hosted by popular Durango resident and ragtime pianist Adam Swanson.

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

Founded in 1972, the Iron Horse is a bicycle road race held annually in Durango. Every year cyclists from around the world come together and race the Durango Narrow Gauge Train on its journey from Durango to Silverton.

Economy

Top Employers

With over 35,000 employees working in the city, Durango is an economic hub in southwestern Colorado and the Four Corners region. According to Durango's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the city's top employers are:
#EmployerNumber of employees
1Southern Ute Indian Reservation1,600
2Durango School District 9-R998
3Mercy Medical Center901
4Purgatory Resort850
5Fort Lewis College683
6La Plata County445
7Walmart437
8City of Durango354
9Bayfield School District 11-JT216
10Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory200

Education

Durango is served by Durango School District 9-R. The district operates multiple schools in the city:
  • Animas Valley Elementary School
  • Florida Mesa Elementary School
  • Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
  • Needham Elementary School
  • Park Elementary School
  • Riverview Elementary School
  • Sunnyside Elementary School
  • Escalante Middle School
  • Miller Middle School
  • Durango High School
Also located in Durango are the Juniper School and Animas High School and Big Picture High School, which offers alternative education.

Higher Education

Transportation

Durango is served by U.S. Highway 160, running east–west, and U.S. Highway 550, running north–south. Part of U.S. 550 offers high-speed access to Albuquerque, New Mexico. North of Durango, 550 is nicknamed the Million Dollar Highway, and is part of the scenic San Juan Skyway.
Durango is served by Durango–La Plata County Airport, a major regional airport for southwestern Colorado, located near Ignacio, Colorado. The airport is serviced year-round by regional carriers Mesa Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airways, and Envoy Air.
As of 2014, regional connecting hubs to DRO include Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Denver International Airport.
Durango Transit provides several loop bus routes in the community, including Fort Lewis College. Normal hours of operation are weekdays from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Ignacio Road Runner provides bus service to the nearby towns of Ignacio, Colorado, and Bayfield, Colorado, with four trips daily on weekdays and one on Saturdays. Both services share the Durango Transit Center as a hub.
Greyhound Lines formerly served Durango, but after budget cuts, the service was discontinued. Since 2014, Road Runner Transit has restored daily bus service between Grand Junction and Durango. Since 2018, Road Runner's service has been incorporated into the larger mantle of the state-run program Bustang.

Media

Durango has a number of media outlets, such as the newspaper The Durango Herald. Some radio stations in Durango are 99x Durango, The Point, KDGO, XRock 105.3, KDUR 91.9/93.9, and Four Corners Broadcasting.

Notable people

Sister cities