Huerfano County
General Overview
Huerfano County lies along the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains of southeastern Colorado.
The county encompasses 1,578 square miles located
in tributary drainage south of the Arkansas River.
Because the County straddles two major
physiographic provinces, the Rocky Mountains and the
Great Plains, it includes a wide variety of land forms,
vegetation patterns and climatic conditions.
Elevations in the county range from a low of
5,280 ft. where the Cucharas River exits the County, to
14, 345 ft. at the summit of Blanca Peak.
It has been said by the U.S. Dept of Weather that
Huerfano County has the best four season climate in the
country.
Often referred to as the “Crossroads of Southern
Colorado”, Huerfano County is bisected from north to
south by Interstate 25 and east to west by US Highway
160 and Colorado Highway 10.
Today, Huerfano
County is comprised of four uniquely individual
communities. Walsenburg
is the county seat and is the largest city with more
than 3200 residents.
The Main Street is alive with antique and gift
shops, restaurants and the Historic Fox Theatre.
LaVeta is
 home to a thriving art colony and
during the summer is the destination of the Rio Grand
Scenic Railroad.
Cuchara offers a cool escape from summer heat in
secluded cabins.
Ranching is Gardner’s mainstay, though in the
Sixties it was a must stop on the hippie commune
circuit.
Communication is a key component in the community;
boasting of two weekly newspapers, and KSPK FM 102 radio
station and Channel 31 television.
Huerfano County is a vibrant, well-balanced and tolerant
society. It
possesses a wealth of resources, people, culture,
nature, heritage and diversity.
All blend into an inviting environment that has
beckoned Native Americans, Spanish Conquistadors,
miners, farmers and ranchers.
Huerfano County is dominated by the Spanish Peaks – twin
mountains jutting out into the plains.
The Native Americans considered them sacred and
called them the Wahatoyas, which translated to “breasts
of the earth”, because the life-giving summer rainclouds
formed up over them in the afternoons.
The Spanish Peaks are geographically unique in
North America because they are independent of any
mountain range and are surrounded by a “wagon wheel” of
radiating volcanic dikes that branch out from the base
of the Peaks like spokes of a wheel.
Volcanic activity is uniquely evident throughout the
County.
Goemmer Butte is a striking volcanic plug that rises
from meadows just north of the Peaks.
Huerfano Butte is a lone volcanic plug on the
prairie that served as an important early landmark and
lookout for Spanish, French and Mexican traders,
trappers and explorers.
Native Americans felt the area around the twin peaks was
neutral territory, a crossroads for tribes moving north
or south, or for following migrating herds.
Utes, Commanche and Apache all criss-crossed the
land, and the Navajo considered this to be one of the
four corners of their world. Legend has it that much of
the fabulous Aztec gold was dug out of the Spanish
Peaks, and this legend was what drove the Spanish
Conquistadors north looking for it. In time this area
became the wild northern frontier of New Spain and then
Mexico. It
was the early
Spanish explorers that named the volcanic landmark and
thus the area “El Huerfano” translated to mean “ the
orphan”.
Explorers were followed by trappers and soon after
agriculture and stock-raising began in earnest, when the
Mexican government approved the Vigil and St Vrain land
grant. In
1861, Huerfano County became one of Colorado’s seventeen
original counties with boundaries identical to the
Vigil-St Vrain land grant that stretched from the New
Mexico line to the Arkansas River and from the Sangre de
Cristo mountains to the Kansas state line.
The current boundaries of the county were
established in 1867.
Early settlers kept warm by using an indigenous
fuel which eventually became the county’s economic base.
Coal became “King” with the introduction of the
first mine in 1876.
Walsenburg became the Ellis Island of the Rockies
with immigrants from around the world, Greeks, Slaves,
Poles, Mexicans, Japanese, Irish, and Italians all
pouring into Huerfano County to dig out “black
diamonds”.
However, it was hardly the United Nations during the
turbulent coalfield wars from 1913 to 1914.
Private Militias and the National Guard were
called in to subdue striking mines and famed union
organizer Mother Jones was imprisoned in the count
courthouse.
Today that history and heritage are the
background and influence for the celebrations and events
of the community. La Plaza de los Leones is a festival
held annually in September that recognizes the influence
of the early Spanish explorers and Mexican settlers in a
vibrant, rich, exploration of Hispanic culture.
“Coal” takes center stage in June with the “Black
Diamond” Jubilee.
Aspects of the ranching and farming way of life can be
experienced through the Gardner Chuckwagon, the Fourth
of July Rodeo and the County 4-H Fair.
Demographics
Data from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs
shows the population for Huerfano County in 2008 was
8,079 residents. Census figures in 2000 show the
population to be 35% Hispanic, 65% Non-Hispanic, 54%
Male, 46% Female, with a median age of 41.7 years. A
DOLA socio-economic profile has a per-capita income of
$21,978, households with 2.98 people per, 5112 housing
units available for occupancy, 3060 occupied, 2052 or
40.14% unoccupied. Of the 3088 jobs available in 2007;
15.9% were in health services, 14.4% local government,
10.5% retail, 8.9% agriculture, 7.8% management and
admin. services and 7.6% food service.
Economy
The historic economic drivers for the county have been
agriculture and coal mining.
Today is a different story.
The major employers are the taxing entities
within the county.
A private prison was the second largest employer
and the largest private employer, but has lost its
contract resulting in the loss of 180 jobs – about 12%
of jobs in the private sector.
The potential for economic recovery lies on three
possible developments.
Wind is the most likely new industry for the county.
The federal push for renewable energy, the increasing
demand for energy and the construction of new power line
from Comanche power plant in Pueblo to the San Luis
Valley all give wind a fighting chance. Wind farms
generally provide several construction jobs while only
providing for a few long-term employees. Wind turbines
generally provide local governments $4,000 to $5,000 per
turbine per year in tax revenue.
 Coal bed methane and natural gas deposits are another
resource which may give a boost to the local economy.
Coal bed methane extraction has one major drawback and
that is the potential adverse effects on the ground and
surface water supplies. To release the methane from the
coal seams, they must first be de-watered. The
geography of the aquifers is complex and in many areas
connected to the coal beds. The potential impact to
water wells could be disastrous. The revenue from
mineral extraction to the local governments could be
tremendous. Counties such a Garfield and Rio Blanco
have seen revenues from gas extraction increase their
budgets double, triple or more in just one year.
The county has a dormant ski area that could be the
third development that would have a significant impact
and the most likely to create long term jobs. A group
of local residents are working to develop the ski areas
as a year-round resort with a hotel and conference
center. The potential project workforce required to run
this type of operation would be 120 to 180 employees.
The workforce in Huerfano County has a major impact on
the types of businesses and industries that can be
recruited. The level of educational attainment is
significantly lower than the State and National
averages. The percentage of college graduates is also
lower with the median age significantly higher.
One asset that Huerfano County can use for attraction is
the scenic qualities. The mountains and slower pace has
led to an influx of retirees and second home owners.
The Cuchara area increases from a winter population of
just over 150 to as many as 3,500 during the summer.
Rural subdivisions have been popular alternative answers
for large ranches as the agricultural economy has become
more difficult. Many people have moved there to get
their piece of the American Dream, only to become
disillusioned after a harsh winter, or their patience
with gravel roads wears thin. The demand for services
increases as these people move from urban environments
and bring their expectations with them.
Overall, the economy in Huerfano County is quite a bit
less than optimal, but the potential for development is
significant. If and/or when the demand for natural gas
and electrical energy from renewable resources increases
enough, Huerfano County will see signs of life in its
own economy.
Health Services
Huerfano County is home to the Spanish Peaks
Regional Health Center. The health center is operated
by the Huerfano County Hospital District, a Colorado
Special District, and is directed by a 5 member,
county-elected Board of Directors.
The creation of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
is a great example of collaboration and cooperation. In
1990 the community realized that they were in need of a
new healthcare facility. The existing facility at that
time had experienced significant structural issues
related to the soils that it was built upon. However,
the community did not have the funds to proceed with the
building of a new facility. With some sharp foresight
and perseverance, the community was able to build the
current facility in cooperation with the State of
Colorado, the Veteran’s Administration and the hospital
board. SPRHC is unique in that it has a Veteran’s
Nursing and acute care hospital located within the same
the facility.
Our health center consists of these visible units:
Spanish Peaks Hospital, Colorado State Veterans Nursing
Home - Walsenburg, Spanish Peaks Family Clinic and the
Women’s/Outreach Center. Also located on our campus is a
dialysis center, owned and operated by an international
provider of dialysis services.
- Spanish Peaks Hospital: The
hospital is licensed as a Critical Access Hospital
with 25 acute care beds and operates a 24-hour level
IV trauma emergency care center. The hospital offers
a variety of medical services to patients and
visitors of Huerfano County and surrounding areas,
including Diagnostic Imaging, a full-service
clinical Laboratory, Cardiopulmonary and
Neurological Diagnosis and Therapy, Physical,
Occupational, and Speech Therapy, Surgical Services,
and a variety of outpatient specialty clinics. The
facility also offers VoiceCare(TM) Personal Response
Systems.
- Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home
Walsenburg: The nursing home, operated
under a contract between the District and the State
of Colorado, is a 120-bed long-term care facility
for our country's veterans and their spouses. We
provide care to veterans from the region and nearby
states. Built in 1993 and adjacent Spanish Peaks
Hospital, the nursing home offers a bright, modern
and comfortable atmosphere with views of the nearby
mountains and State Park lakes. It provides a
special care unit for Alzheimers and dementia
residents.
- Spanish Peaks Family Clinic:
Located just a few feet of the main facility, at the
west end of the campus, resides our family medicine
department of the hospital, Spanish Peaks Family
Clinic. In a newly constructed, 5300 square foot
facility, the clinic provides complete outpatient
healthcare services to families and visitors of our
beautiful region. Our friendly and talented staff
offers appointments 5 days a week, to include a
complete list of diagnostic and treatment services
and programs of care.
- Women’s and Outreach Center:
The Women’s and Outreach Center is located off-site
in the town of Walsenburg. The center provides
women’s health services, including the Colorado
Women’s Cancer Control Initiative, family planning,
and programs for new mothers. It is also the
headquarters for the facility’s outreach and
community health initiatives.
Nonprofit Organizations
- El Fandango Folk Dances of Mexico & the World
- Francisco Center for the Performing Arts
- Francisco Fort Museum
- Fraternal Order of Eagles
- Gardner Community Corporation
- Huerfano County 4-H
- Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce
- Huerfano County Economic Development
- Huerfano County Hospital District
- Huerfano County Parks & Rec. Assoc.
- Huerfano County Tourism Board
- Huerfano County Volunteer Fire District
- Huerfano County Youth & Arts Assoc.
- Huerfano County Youth Services
- Huerfano/Las Animas Counties Board of Realtors
- Huerfano Youth & Arts Foundation/Fox Theatre
- Journey Home
- La Clinica
- La Plaza de los Leones Association
- La Veta Chamber of Commerce
- La Veta Regional Library District
- La Veta Rotary
- Mountain Creek Home Health
- P.E.O. Chapter BZ
- Sisters of Color United for Education
- South Central Council of Governments
- Spanish Peaks Alliance for the Arts
- Spanish Peaks Arts Council
- Spanish Peaks Hospital Foundation
- Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music
Festival
- Spanish Peaks Library District
- Teen Court of Huerfano County
- Territorial Daughters
- Walsenburg Mining Museum
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