Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States
Fort Garland
is an
unincorporated town
, a
post office
, and a
census-designated place (CDP)
located in and governed by
Costilla County
,
Colorado
,
United States
. The Fort Garland post office has the
ZIP Code
81133.
[4]
At the
United States Census 2020
, the population of the Fort Garland CDP was 464.
[3]
History
[
edit
]
Fort Garland was established by the
US Army
in June 1858 to protect settlers from the
Utes
in the
San Luis Valley
, which was then part of the
New Mexico Territory
. The fort was abandoned in 1883 following the confinement of the tribes to
Indian reservation
in Utah territory and Colorado. The Fort Garland Museum preserves some of the historic buildings from the fort.
[5]
Geography
[
edit
]
Fort Garland is located at an elevation of 7,936 ft (2,419 m) in northern
Costilla County
.
[6]
Fort Garland is at the crossroads of
U.S. Route 160
and
Colorado State Highway 159
, which leads south towards
Taos
and
Santa Fe, New Mexico
. The town of
Blanca
is 4 miles (6.4 km) west on
U.S. Route 160
.
Walsenburg
is 47 miles (76 km) to the east, across the
Sangre de Cristo Range
.
The Fort Garland CDP has an area of 240 acres (0.973 km
2
), all land.
[2]
Demographics
[
edit
]
The
United States Census Bureau
initially defined the
Fort Garland CDP
for the
United States Census 2000
.
Modern amenities
[
edit
]
Fort Garland is referred to as the "Gateway to the
San Luis Valley
", as it is the first town one encounters when traveling west having crossed over La Veta Pass in the
Sangre de Cristo Range
. Fort Garland is home to many artists, painters, crafters and internationally known musicians.
Fort Garland has a business district with two motels, several restaurants, the Old Fort Market grocery store, the Fort Garland Museum, two gas stations, two recreational marijuana shops, a car wash, hair salon, campgrounds, hardware store, liquor store, and multiple shops featuring collectibles and antiquities as well as a Wild West show.
The Annual Fort Garland Band Jam Music Festival features local and regional musicians, as well as nationally and internationally recognized musical talent. This summer event, usually held in mid-July, includes an open-air market, local food vendors offering up traditional and regional cuisine, a
beer garden
, and children's activities. The music offered covers numerous styles, from traditional Spanish guitar to R&B to rock and roll.
The Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center is open to residents and the public on daily, monthly or annual fees.
The Entrada Visitor's Center offers information on local and regional points of interest, such as the
Great Sand Dunes
, the Colorado 'Gator farm,
UFO Watchtower
and other activities located within the
San Luis Valley
.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fort Garland, Colorado
- ^
a
b
"State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
December 21,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
United States Census Bureau.
"Fort Garland CDP, Colorado"
. Retrieved
April 2,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
"Look Up a ZIP Code"
.
United States Postal Service
. Retrieved
November 21,
2020
.
- ^
Fort Garland
- ^
"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990"
.
United States Census Bureau
. February 12, 2011
. Retrieved
April 23,
2011
.
External links
[
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]
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Overview
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Trading posts and
civilian forts
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U.S. and Spanish
military forts
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Active
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National cemeteries
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Major events
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Related articles
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International
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National
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Other
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