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Otero County, Colorado

92 topographic sheets cover 29 settlements here, and 19 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

19 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Colorado within the United States
Otero County within Colorado

What the record shows

  • 472 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 19 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 15 buildings, 3 districts and 1 site.
  • 3 of the 19 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 29 populated places in this county; 29 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

19

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Adobe Stables, Arkansas Valley Fairgroundsbuilding200707001305
Art Buildingbuilding199696001027
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Sitedistrict196666000254
Carnegie Public Librarybuilding199595001247
Dr. Frank Finney Housebuilding198484000877
Wilson A. Hart Housebuilding197979000617
La Junta City Parkdistrict200707000343
Lincoln Schoolbuilding197878000874
Manzanola United Methodist Church (MUMC)building2024100011069
North La Junta Schoolbuilding199292000809
Rocky Ford Post Officebuilding200807001394
Eugene Rourke Housebuilding198383001326
San Juan Avenue Historic Districtdistrict198080000918
Santa Fe Railway Manzanola Depotbuilding200404000363
Daniel Sciumbato Grocery Storebuilding198484000878
Swink Schoolbuilding2025100011578
U.S. Post Officebuilding197676000565
United Methodist Church of La Juntabuilding2025100011789
Valley View-Hillcrest Cemeterysite2024100010592

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

757 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 757 of them, burning about 15,986 acres. 38 started naturally and 3 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined543
Debris and open burning46
Equipment and vehicle use42
Smoking41
Natural38
Recreation and ceremony29
Fireworks7
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Arson/incendiarism3
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Other causes1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
14 December 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,500 acresColorado State Forest Service-State Headquartersnot named
19 February 2011Equipment and vehicle use2,042 acresPike and San Isabel National ForestSIERRA VISTA
3 June 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,000 acresColorado State Forest Service-State HeadquartersLA JUNTA
23 March 2002Debris and open burning1,725 acresBents Old Fort National Historic SiteSANTA FE
11 April 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,500 acresOtero CountyBENT FORT
14 April 2008Debris and open burning1,227 acresPike and San Isabel National ForestSNAKEWEED
24 July 2011Natural1,044 acresPike and San Isabel National ForestWITHERS CANYON
24 November 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined505 acresOtero CountyTIMBER

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1953 to 2024

60 of 445 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 445 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, no injuries and about $554,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail219
Thunderstorm Wind137
Tornado30
Flash Flood27
Flood12
Heavy Rain11
Lightning5
Funnel Cloud4

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2016Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt1 killed, $10,000A microburst flipped over a 30-foot trailer home and killed the male occupant.
June 2024Flood(Lhx)La Junta Arpt1 killedSustained high flow releases from Pueblo Reservoir led to brief periods of minor flooding along the Arkansas River in La Junta (LXHC2) from June 12-13 and again on June 15. The LXHC2 stream gauge reported the first crest of 11.36 ft on June 12 and a second crest of 11.32 ft on June 15. One fatality was reported for the June 15 event.
September 2005LightningRocky Ford1 killedA 36-year old man was struck and killed by lightning while work outside on a farm.
September 1996LightningSwink1 killedno account filed
June 2007Thunderstorm WindLa Junta$80,000An intense thunderstorm wind gust occurred on County Road R, hitting a ranch. Major damage occurred to a 50-foot long shed, which damaged a truck inside. Debris from the shed was thrown several hundred feet to the east. Other farm equipment sustained damage as well. Several corrals were destroyed.
October 1997Tornado (F1)La Junta$75,000Another supercell thunderstorm brought large hail and a tornado to southeast Otero county. The storm and accompanying tornado moved out of open country southwest of the Higbee Valley and struck several ranches just north of the Purgatoire River on Road 804. At about 8:45 p.m. the tornado struck three ranches about 3 miles southwest of Higbee. Some barns were destroyed, and roofs were ripped off others. Horse trailers, windmills, feed troughs, hay feeders, water tanks, grain storage bins were destroyed. Many large cottonwood trees were broken off or uprooted. The tornado ripped through the northwest side of Higbee, and one horse perished from injuries due to flying debris there. The tornado then moved northeast through open ranch country for another 5 miles, with the only known damage being two downed power poles.
June 2007Flash FloodFowler$50,000A complex of strong to severe thunderstorms produced very heavy rain which flooded low areas and basements from Fowler to Rocky Ford.
May 1998Tornado (F1)La Junta$50,000A narrow tornado and 80 to 100 mph straight-line winds downed power lines... damaged several grain bins and storage silos...uprooted large trees...shattered some windows...and partially ripped off some roofs in the rural Star Valley area west of La Junta. A large 40x100 foot machine shop was destroyed. Several small sheds were also destroyed. Power was not restored to some parts of the area until the following afternoon.
August 2003Thunderstorm WindRocky Ford$50,000no account filed
October 1997HailLa Junta$50,000no account filed
June 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth La Junta$30,000Severe storm wind gusts caused gas station sign and overhang damage. In addition, trees snapped and uprooted in the City of La Junta while airport hangers were damaged at the La Junta airport.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindLa Junta Arpt$25,000Damaging winds moved through the industrial park and airport complex north of La Junta. Several windows were blown out of the municipal golf course clubhouse. A partially erected building in the complex was destroyed. The roof of a restroom facility was blown off. Several trees were uprooted. A trailer just south of the complex was blown on its side.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindLa Junta$25,000Damaging straight-line winds moved through mainly northern La Junta. Hardest hit was the Fair View Cemetery, on the northwest side of town, where about 25 large trees were damaged or uprooted. Spotty roof and sign damage occurred on the north side of La Junta.
October 1953Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
June 2002Thunderstorm WindLa Junta$20,000no account filed
August 2007LightningLa Junta$10,000Lightning strikes causes small fires in a few buildings.
September 2001HailSwink$10,000Severe thunderstorms produced hail up to baseball size in northern Otero County. At Holbrook Reservoir golf ball to baseball size hail killed over 1600 birds. The dead birds include: 1479 pelicans...over 100 acelots...about 50 gulls...24 ducks...and a couple dozen other waterfowl. A few homes in the area also had their windows broken by the large hail.
October 1997HailLa Junta$10,000no account filed
July 2014Thunderstorm WindFowler$8,000A hay barn was severely damaged on County Road 1.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindTimpas$5,000A severe storm produced damaging winds. Large tree limbs were brought down. Decking was damaged. The roof to a cattle barn was lofted several hundred feet and ended up in the High Line Canal.
August 2004LightningRocky Ford$4,000A lightning strike caused a haystack to catch fire.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindFowler$3,000Power poles and lines were taken down on County Road 3 south of Fowler.
July 2001LightningLa Junta$3,000A lightning strike burned up a transformer and caused 4 wells to stop working for 2 days in the La Junta area.
June 1983Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 1966Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1962Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
October 1953Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500no account filed
September 1993Thunderstorm WindLa Junta$500Severe thunderstorms rumbled across portions of Eastern Colorado. Golfball hail damaged cars north of Limon, while wind- driven marble-size hail broke windows southeast of Shamrock (26 miles south of Fort Morgan). Thunderstorm winds blew over an overhead sign onto the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 25 in Denver, causing considerable damage to 4 vehicles. The winds also caused a police car to be blown off the road northeast of Denver. Thunderstorm winds gusting to 66 mph (57 knots) damaged the siding of a residence southeast of Brighton. In Arriba (18 miles east of Limon), one-inch diameter hail broke windows, damaged vehicles and destroyed crops, while thunderstorm winds knocked a shed onto a camper. Thunderstorm winds blew over a camper and a semi north of Lamar, and knocked down power lines in La Junta, causing a brief power outage.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindLa Junta$500Thunderstorm winds blew down several fences in La Junta.
May 1962Tornado (F1)not stated$250no account filed
May 1957Tornadonot stated$250no account filed
August 1953Tornadonot stated$250no account filed
May 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-Measured via the ASOS station (KLHX) airport.
May 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-La Junta airport.
May 2024HailLa Junta-Trained spotter reported mostly pea size hail, with quarter size mixed in.
July 2024HailCheraw-One inch measured hail was reported.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindFowler-Mesonet station fw4234 at Fowler reported 67mph wind gust.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindManzanola-Four transmission power poles along US50 just west of Manzanola blown down. Numerous trees down in Otero county. Time based on radar.
July 2024Flood(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-Locally heavy rainfall (radar QPE estimated 1-2 inches) resulted in a quick rise and brief period of minor flooding along the Arkansas River in La Junta (LXHC2). The river crested just above Minor Flood Stage at 11.20 ft. at 6:15am MDT.
July 2024Flash FloodManzanola-Right lane of Hwy 50 flooded with one car stalled.
July 2024Flash FloodRocky Ford-Flooded intersection at Highway 50 and Steen Ave, in La Junta, began at 8:55pm MDT. Road closed due to high water.
October 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-Surface observations from KLHX.
June 2024Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-ASOS at the La Junta Airport reported wind gusts from a severe thunderstorm, which measured 63 kts.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindCheraw-A trained spotter reported an 8 inch live tree limb blown off. Another dead tree was also blown down. 3/4 inch hail also occurred.
May 2023HailNorth La Junta-Reported from a trained spotter.
May 2023Thunderstorm Wind(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-Reported by La Junta surface observations.
July 2023Flash FloodTimpas-Highway 350 closed between mile marker 47 and 48 due to road damage and flooding.
July 2023FloodLa Junta-Reports of major flooding along Highway 50 and Highway 350 near La Junta. Multiple cars stuck in 3 feet of water.
June 2023Heavy RainHigbee-There was 0.98 inches that fell within an hour.
June 2023Flash FloodHigbee-Water in creek is over the road and bridge. Local estimates are that the creek is running at least 10 feet higher than normal.
August 2022Flash FloodLa Junta-Underpass flooded and impassable.
August 2022Flash FloodSwink-Flooding over Highway 50 in spots between Reynolds Ave and CR 24.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindLa Junta-Blown down power poll.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRocky Ford-Two power poles blow over.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindLa Junta-Blown down power pole.
July 2022Flash FloodLa Junta-Spotter reports Highway 50 is closed in La Junta due to flash flooding under railroad underpass.
July 2022Tornado (EF0)(Lhx)La Junta Arpt-Pictures from Otero county sheriffs office show minor structural damage to a residence north of Highway 50 and south of the Arkansas river, northeast of casa. Winds are estimated at 80 mph. The tornado continued to track towards the Otero and Bent county line before lifting.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindRocky Ford-Otero county sheriffs office reported numerous trees down across the county.
July 2022Heavy RainSwink-Heavy rainfall of 2.22 inches.
July 2022Heavy RainRocky Ford-Heavy rainfall of 2.50 inches.

Mines and quarries

81 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 81 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 77 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction62
Clay7
Fire Clay (Refractory)5
Stone4
Stone, Dimension1
Gypsum-Anhydrite1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Alabaster Processing PlantGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
La Junta ShaleStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnknownStone, DimensionOccurrence
UnkStoneUnknown
UnkStoneUnknown
UnkStoneUnknown
UnknownStoneOccurrence
UnknownFire Clay (Refractory)OccurrenceSedimentary
UnknownFire Clay (Refractory)OccurrenceSedimentary
UnknownFire Clay (Refractory)OccurrenceSedimentary
UnknownFire Clay (Refractory)ProducerSedimentary
UnknownFire Clay (Refractory)ProducerSedimentary
UnkClayUnknown
UnkClayUnknown
UnkClayUnknown
UnkClayUnknown
UnkClayUnknown
UnkClayUnknown
UnknownClayOccurrenceSedimentary
Hancock PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Korinek Trout Farm PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
La Junta Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceGravel
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Valco Concrete Div No. 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

29

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Otero County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.