Huerfano County
History:
Huerfano County: The county was named for the Huerfano Butte, a local landmark, meaning "orphan" in Spanish.
Walsenburg: Robert Ford, the assassin of outlaw Jesse James, operated a combination saloon and gambling house in Walsenburg; his home at 320 West 7th Street still stands.
The City of Walsenburg, Huerfano's largest city and county seat, traces its history back about 150 years. The settlement was first established as La Plaza de los Leones which was named after the Leon family on the north side of the Cuchara River by Don Miguel Antonio Leon and a family named Atencio. In 1870, Fred Walsen settled nearby and opened up his large mercantile, making the town an attractive location for German settlers. After Fred assisted in the incorporation of the town's 320-acre (1.3 km2) site, it was suggested that he be honored by formally naming the new town "Walsenburg". In 1876, Walsen also opened the area's first coal mine, and the development of the town was influenced for a century by coal mining in the region. An estimated 500 million tons of coal was mined until a combination of corporate mergers, environmental regulations, and enforcement of mine safety regulations led to the closure of virtually all mining in the area.
In the late 1800's Saloom Saliba and his daughter Louise came to Walsenburg from Lebanon. They opened a general store north of town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and later Louise opened a post office in that store. Soon she married John Asperidon Said Faris. Louise Saliba Faris, a vibrant personality and tough business woman, would eventual amass upwards of 54,000 acres in the valley and then loss most of it in the Great Depression after suffering from a series of strokes. The couple had four children, Janette, was the couple's oldest child and only daughter. One of the towns in Huerfano bears the name Farisita, meaning in spanish "little Faris girl", named after Janette. The youngest brother Joe Faris built the Faris Land and Cattle Company back up to nearly 38,000 acres after the great depression. Joe Faris' sons operate the Faris Land and Cattle Company today.
Walsenburg has transformed itself in recent years with the revitalization of its downtown area, led by the efforts of Richard McEntee and Marti Henderson and many other local businesses who have joined together to revitalize this historic and scenic community.
La Veta: Huerfano's second largest town and main tourist attraction. La Veta is in Southern Colorado's Cuchara Valley, a delightful undiscovered destination. Amidst nature's great beauty you will find a refreshing small town quality of life combined with the sophistication of art galleries, theater, dining, a fitness center, musical entertainment and shopping.
For recreation there is hiking and fishing in the high mountain lakes and National Forest. Mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, and golf at Grandote Peaks, atop rated course. Just one hour's drive from La Veta is the spectacular Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Other towns in Huerfano:
Park, forest, and wilderness:
Geography:
According to the United States Census Bureau, Walsenburg has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.
The Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center is located two miles (3 km) west of Walsenburg on US Route 160, opposite the entrance to Lathroop State Park. Inside the building, there are a state-operated veterans retirement home and a community hospital that serves the area.
Local attractions and recreation:
Lathroop State Park, located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city limits of Walsenburg, is the State of Colorado's first State Park and is over 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) in size. Two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake offer fishing, stocked by the State of Colorado (Division of Wildlife of the Department of Natural Resources), water skiing, boating, jet skiing, hiking, camping and is the only State Park in Colorado with a golf course.
The nearby Spanish Peaks are a national landmark and named one of Colorado's Seven Wonders by the Denver Post. The Highway of The Legends, connecting Walsenburg with La Veta, other historic mining towns, and Trinidad , is a National Scenic and Historic Byway.
The Walsenburg Golf Course is a 9 hole public golf course open for play year round. The City opened a two-million dollar water park, "Walsenburg Wild Waters" after efforts by former mayor Maurice Brau and the City Council, on May 27, 2007.
Over 3.6 million cars a year pass through this "Gateway to the Southwest" and travel and tourism are important to the local community.
Demographics:
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,082 households, and 1,920 families residing in the county.
The cost of living is well below the national average making Walsenburg and Huerfano County very attractive for current and future retiree's looking for a pristine area with spectacular natural beauty with a low cost of living.
Huerfano County: The county was named for the Huerfano Butte, a local landmark, meaning "orphan" in Spanish.
Walsenburg: Robert Ford, the assassin of outlaw Jesse James, operated a combination saloon and gambling house in Walsenburg; his home at 320 West 7th Street still stands.
The City of Walsenburg, Huerfano's largest city and county seat, traces its history back about 150 years. The settlement was first established as La Plaza de los Leones which was named after the Leon family on the north side of the Cuchara River by Don Miguel Antonio Leon and a family named Atencio. In 1870, Fred Walsen settled nearby and opened up his large mercantile, making the town an attractive location for German settlers. After Fred assisted in the incorporation of the town's 320-acre (1.3 km2) site, it was suggested that he be honored by formally naming the new town "Walsenburg". In 1876, Walsen also opened the area's first coal mine, and the development of the town was influenced for a century by coal mining in the region. An estimated 500 million tons of coal was mined until a combination of corporate mergers, environmental regulations, and enforcement of mine safety regulations led to the closure of virtually all mining in the area.
In the late 1800's Saloom Saliba and his daughter Louise came to Walsenburg from Lebanon. They opened a general store north of town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and later Louise opened a post office in that store. Soon she married John Asperidon Said Faris. Louise Saliba Faris, a vibrant personality and tough business woman, would eventual amass upwards of 54,000 acres in the valley and then loss most of it in the Great Depression after suffering from a series of strokes. The couple had four children, Janette, was the couple's oldest child and only daughter. One of the towns in Huerfano bears the name Farisita, meaning in spanish "little Faris girl", named after Janette. The youngest brother Joe Faris built the Faris Land and Cattle Company back up to nearly 38,000 acres after the great depression. Joe Faris' sons operate the Faris Land and Cattle Company today.
Walsenburg has transformed itself in recent years with the revitalization of its downtown area, led by the efforts of Richard McEntee and Marti Henderson and many other local businesses who have joined together to revitalize this historic and scenic community.
La Veta: Huerfano's second largest town and main tourist attraction. La Veta is in Southern Colorado's Cuchara Valley, a delightful undiscovered destination. Amidst nature's great beauty you will find a refreshing small town quality of life combined with the sophistication of art galleries, theater, dining, a fitness center, musical entertainment and shopping.
For recreation there is hiking and fishing in the high mountain lakes and National Forest. Mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, and golf at Grandote Peaks, atop rated course. Just one hour's drive from La Veta is the spectacular Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Other towns in Huerfano:
- Badito
- Calumet
- Cuchara
- Gardner
Park, forest, and wilderness:
- Green Mountain Wilderness
- Lathroop State Park
- San Isabel National Forrest
- Sangre De Cristo Wilderness
- Spanish Peaks Wilderness
- Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
Geography:
According to the United States Census Bureau, Walsenburg has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.
The Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center is located two miles (3 km) west of Walsenburg on US Route 160, opposite the entrance to Lathroop State Park. Inside the building, there are a state-operated veterans retirement home and a community hospital that serves the area.
Local attractions and recreation:
Lathroop State Park, located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city limits of Walsenburg, is the State of Colorado's first State Park and is over 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) in size. Two lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake offer fishing, stocked by the State of Colorado (Division of Wildlife of the Department of Natural Resources), water skiing, boating, jet skiing, hiking, camping and is the only State Park in Colorado with a golf course.
The nearby Spanish Peaks are a national landmark and named one of Colorado's Seven Wonders by the Denver Post. The Highway of The Legends, connecting Walsenburg with La Veta, other historic mining towns, and Trinidad , is a National Scenic and Historic Byway.
The Walsenburg Golf Course is a 9 hole public golf course open for play year round. The City opened a two-million dollar water park, "Walsenburg Wild Waters" after efforts by former mayor Maurice Brau and the City Council, on May 27, 2007.
Over 3.6 million cars a year pass through this "Gateway to the Southwest" and travel and tourism are important to the local community.
Demographics:
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,082 households, and 1,920 families residing in the county.
The cost of living is well below the national average making Walsenburg and Huerfano County very attractive for current and future retiree's looking for a pristine area with spectacular natural beauty with a low cost of living.
Contact us: info@ceri.us Phone: (970)366-1627
1100 West 7th Street Walsenburg, CO 81089
1100 West 7th Street Walsenburg, CO 81089