Alamosa, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat
and the most populous city of Alamosa County
, Colorado
, United States
. The United States Census Bureau
estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005. The city is the commercial center of the San Luis Valley
in south-central Colorado
.
Alamosa was established in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and quickly became an important rail center. The railroad had an extensive construction, repair and shipping facility in Alamosa for many years and headquartered its remaining narrow gauge service here with trackage reaching many points throughout southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico. Alamosa is now a notable tourist town with many nearby attractions including the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
and Colorado Gators Reptile Park
. The town hosts "SummerFest on the Rio" which occurs the first weekend in June and the Early Iron car show over the Labor day weekend. The city takes its name from the Alamosa River
. "Alamosa" is a Spanish
adjective
meaning "of cottonwood".
and two supermarket
s, Safeway
and City Market
. There are a number of fast food restaurant
s, two medical clinics, and a regional hospital
, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center
.
Adams State College
is located in Alamosa. ASC is a four year, state supported college founded in 1921 and offering degrees in several fields including business and education.
Trinidad State Junior College
also has a campus situated in Alamosa. They offer 2-year degrees in Gunsmithing, Aquaculture, Cosmetology, Welding and Nursing as well as traditional Arts and Sciences classes like English, Physics and Chemistry.
Alamosa is home of Cattails Golf course an 18 hole championship course with a new clubhouse opened in 2008.
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²).
Alamosa is located in the San Luis Valley, in the highest general agricultural land in the United States. The San Luis Valley is the largest intermountain valley in the world, where local farmers specialize in growing cool weather crops. Elevation is about 7500 feet (2,286 m) in Alamosa with peaks over 14000 feet (4,267.2 m) within 23 miles (37 km) of town in the Sangre de Cristo range.
Alamosa features a semi-arid climate (Koppen
BSk, but just avoiding arid designation), with long, cold winters and warm summers, and dry weather year-round. Normals range from a low of -4 F in January to a high of 82 °F (27.8 °C) in July. Annual precipitation is only 7.25 inches (18 cm), with summer being the wettest. The aridity depresses snow average totals to around 32 inches (81 cm) and causes day-night temperature differences to be severe year-round.
, which is crossed by two auto bridges, one pedestrian bridge and one rail bridge in town. Auto traffic is served by U.S. Route 160 running east and west and U.S. Route 285 and State Highway 17
running north and south. Alamosa is served by the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
. Great Lakes Airlines
makes three daily flights between Denver and Alamosa
.
of 2000, there were 7,960 people, 2,974 households, and 1,769 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,995.0 people per square mile (770.3/km²). There were 3,215 housing units at an average density of 805.8 per square mile (311.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.53% White
, 1.41% Black
or African American
, 2.20% Native American
, 0.95% Asian
, 0.26% Pacific Islander
, 22.36% from other races
, and 4.28% from two or more races. 46.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,974 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,453, and the median income for a family was $33,017. Males had a median income of $27,100 versus $22,671 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,405. About 18.1% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
towns. The City Council has 6 members, 4 members elected from wards and two at large. City Council votes against or for laws. City Council has authority to make ordinaces, change ordinances, and repeal ordinances. The city elects a mayor-at-large on a non-partisan ballot. The current mayor of Alamosa is Kathy Rogers.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
and the most populous city of Alamosa County
Alamosa County, Colorado
Alamosa County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name is the Spanish language word for a "grove of cottonwood trees." The county population was 14,966 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005. The city is the commercial center of the San Luis Valley
San Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is an extensive alpine valley in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico covering approximately and sitting at an average elevation of above sea level. The valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande River, which rises in the San Juan...
in south-central Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Alamosa was established in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and quickly became an important rail center. The railroad had an extensive construction, repair and shipping facility in Alamosa for many years and headquartered its remaining narrow gauge service here with trackage reaching many points throughout southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico. Alamosa is now a notable tourist town with many nearby attractions including the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
-Other features:The park also contains alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands — all habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species.One of the most unusual features of...
and Colorado Gators Reptile Park
Colorado Gators Reptile Park
Colorado Gators Reptile Park was opened to the public in 1990, in Mosca, Colorado, United States. Located north of Alamosa, Colorado, it started as a tilapia farm in 1977, and now includes a bird sanctuary, reptile rescue, education, and display, and a biodome....
. The town hosts "SummerFest on the Rio" which occurs the first weekend in June and the Early Iron car show over the Labor day weekend. The city takes its name from the Alamosa River
Alamosa River
The Alamosa River is a river in the southern part of the U.S. state of Colorado. It is about long, flowing roughly east through the San Luis Valley. Its watershed comprises about .The river's name means "shaded with cottonwoods" in Spanish....
. "Alamosa" is a Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
adjective
Adjective
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
meaning "of cottonwood".
Facilities
Alamosa is the shopping center for the San Luis Valley and boasts a WalMart Supercenter a WalgreensWalgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
and two supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
and City Market
King Soopers & City Market
King Soopers and City Market are two supermarket brands of Kroger in the Rocky Mountains of the United States. Though they were originally separate, Kroger now manages them together.-King Soopers:...
. There are a number of fast food restaurant
Fast food restaurant
A fast food restaurant, also known as a Quick Service Restaurant or QSR within the industry itself, is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service...
s, two medical clinics, and a regional hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center
San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center
San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center is an acute care hospital located in the San Luis Valley in Alamosa, Colorado. It serves residents and visitors in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico....
.
Adams State College
Adams State College
Adams State College is a small state-supported liberal arts college in Alamosa, Colorado, U.S., in the San Luis Valley.-History:Adams State was founded in 1921 as a teacher's college but now offers a variety of programs including masters degrees in many fields...
is located in Alamosa. ASC is a four year, state supported college founded in 1921 and offering degrees in several fields including business and education.
Trinidad State Junior College
Trinidad State Junior College
Founded in 1925, Trinidad State Junior College is a two year college located in Trinidad, Colorado, United States, with a secondary satellite campus located in Alamosa, Colorado...
also has a campus situated in Alamosa. They offer 2-year degrees in Gunsmithing, Aquaculture, Cosmetology, Welding and Nursing as well as traditional Arts and Sciences classes like English, Physics and Chemistry.
Alamosa is home of Cattails Golf course an 18 hole championship course with a new clubhouse opened in 2008.
Geography and climate
Alamosa is located at 37°28′8"N 105°52′25"W (37.468835, -105.873686), at the junction of U.S. Routes 160 and 285. According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²).
Alamosa is located in the San Luis Valley, in the highest general agricultural land in the United States. The San Luis Valley is the largest intermountain valley in the world, where local farmers specialize in growing cool weather crops. Elevation is about 7500 feet (2,286 m) in Alamosa with peaks over 14000 feet (4,267.2 m) within 23 miles (37 km) of town in the Sangre de Cristo range.
Alamosa features a semi-arid climate (Koppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk, but just avoiding arid designation), with long, cold winters and warm summers, and dry weather year-round. Normals range from a low of -4 F in January to a high of 82 °F (27.8 °C) in July. Annual precipitation is only 7.25 inches (18 cm), with summer being the wettest. The aridity depresses snow average totals to around 32 inches (81 cm) and causes day-night temperature differences to be severe year-round.
Transportation
Alamosa is on the Rio GrandeRio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, which is crossed by two auto bridges, one pedestrian bridge and one rail bridge in town. Auto traffic is served by U.S. Route 160 running east and west and U.S. Route 285 and State Highway 17
Colorado State Highway 17
State Highway 17 is a long state highway in southern Colorado.-Route description:SH 17 is officially split into two parts by a stretch of concurrence with U.S. Highway 285. The first part of the route begins in the south at the New Mexico state line where the road becomes New Mexico State Road 17...
running north and south. Alamosa is served by the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
The San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Colorado.The SLRG began operations in 2003 using 154 miles of former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks on three lines radiating from Alamosa, Colorado. The SLRG operates an eclectic variety of equipment from the...
. Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines , is an American regional airline operating domestic scheduled and charter services. Corporate headquarters are located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with hubs at Denver International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, McCarran...
makes three daily flights between Denver and Alamosa
San Luis Valley Regional Airport
San Luis Valley Regional Airport , also known as Bergman Field, is a public airport located two miles south of the central business district of Alamosa, a city in Alamosa County, Colorado, USA. The airport covers and has two runways. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,960 people, 2,974 households, and 1,769 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,995.0 people per square mile (770.3/km²). There were 3,215 housing units at an average density of 805.8 per square mile (311.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.53% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.41% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.95% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 22.36% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.28% from two or more races. 46.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 2,974 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,453, and the median income for a family was $33,017. Males had a median income of $27,100 versus $22,671 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,405. About 18.1% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Carlos F. LuceroCarlos F. LuceroCarlos Lucero is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.- Education and Legal Career :...
, Judge, United States District Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit - John SalazarJohn SalazarJohn Tony Salazar is the former Congressman for , serving from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following his service in Congress, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011.-Early life,...
, former member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, brother of Ken Salazar - Ken SalazarKen SalazarKenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
, U.S. Senator for ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States Secretary of the InteriorUnited States Secretary of the InteriorThe United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
, brother of John Salazar - Michael JohnsonMichael Johnson (singer)Michael Johnson , is an American pop, country and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1978 hit song "Bluer Than Blue". To date, he has charted four hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and nine more on the Hot Country Songs charts, including two Number One country hits...
, Singer, Guitarist, Recording Artist - Garrey CarruthersGarrey CarruthersGarrey Edward Carruthers currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University. Previously Carruthers served as Special Assistant to the U.S...
Former New Mexico Governor (1987–1991) - Danny LedonneDanny LedonneDanny Ledonne is an American film director. He is a 2004 graduate of Emerson College's film program in Boston, Massachusetts. He is known for creating the controversial video game Super Columbine Massacre RPG! that replayed the events of the Columbine High School massacre...
, Filmmaker - Ralph PettyRalph PettyRalph Petty is an American figurative and landscape painter, musician, saxophonist, and singer living in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.- Biography :...
Founder of the Combes Gallery in Paris, Associate Professor of Fine Arts at the American University of Paris - Billy AdamsBilly AdamsWilliam Herbert Adams , better known as Billy Adams, was the 25th Governor of the State of Colorado, United States, from 1927 until 1933....
Mayor of Alamosa, Later Governor of Colorado from 1927 to 1933
Government
The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality like many other ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
towns. The City Council has 6 members, 4 members elected from wards and two at large. City Council votes against or for laws. City Council has authority to make ordinaces, change ordinances, and repeal ordinances. The city elects a mayor-at-large on a non-partisan ballot. The current mayor of Alamosa is Kathy Rogers.