Costilla County
History and Geography
Costilla County was the first area of the State of
Colorado to be colonized with recorded history dating
back to 1540, the year Coronado explored the Southwest.
Costilla County has a few larger towns: San Luis, Fort
Garland and Blanca, and the smaller communities of
Chama, San Pedro, Los Fuertes, Garcia, Jaroso, San
Francisco, San Acacio, and Mesita, all of which were
established shortly after 1851. The Town of San Luis
hosts the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross. The
shrine represents the last hour of Christ's life to his
resurrection. Every year, hundreds of people set out on
a pilgrimage to the shrine and thousands more come to
pray and bring peace to themselves. The town is also
home to Colorado’s oldest business, R&R Supermarket
established in 1857 and the Sangre de Cristo Parish Hall
built in 1886. The museum in Fort Garland, built in
1858, was once a fort commanded by Kit Carson. Carson
had orders from the government to keep peace in the San
Luis Valley; therefore no battles were ever fought on
fort grounds. On Memorial Day weekend, Fort Garland is
host to a festival of re-enactments, stories, songs, and
dances depicting the cultures and occupations indigenous
to Costilla County including Hispanic, Ute, and fur
trapping.
The land area of the county is approximately 1,230
square miles with only a sliver of the Rio Grande
National Forest on its eastern border available as
public lands. The skyline is dominated by Blanca Peak
and stands at 14,345ft. Other natural attractions
include Eastdale Reservoir, Sanchez Reservoir, Smith
Reservoir, and Mount Home Lake. All are excellent for
fishing and boating. Wildlife is abundant and can be
seen grazing among the livestock.
Demographics
In 2010, Costilla County’s population was 3,148 with a
project growth rate of 3.5 percent expected over the
next five years. It is the ninth least populous of the
64 counties in the State of Colorado. The largest ethnic
group is Hispanic/Latino representing 67 percent of the
population.
Economy
Representing one of the high rates of poverty in the San
Luis Valley, 28 percent of residents and families live
below the national poverty line. Per capita income is
only $16,148 annually and over 40 percent of housing
units are vacant. Local economy relies heavily on
tourism and government for employment opportunities
followed by work in the agricultural sector. Ranching
and farming are conducted on vast land grants and do not
often require large numbers of workers to manage
livestock herds.
Education
K-12 education in Costilla County is provided by two
districts: Centennial R-1 and Sierra Grande R-30. In
2009, there were 353 and 317 students enrolled
respectively. Both schools have been identified by the
Colorado Department of Education for Priority
Improvement Plans. Sierra Grande hosts many regional
tournaments and activities in their newly constructed
Recreation Center, complete with full-size swimming
pool, weight room, cafeteria and gym. Costilla County
does not have any adult education facilities, although
Adams State College and the San Luis Valley Voc-Tech
Center are located in nearby Alamosa. The nearest
community college is Trinidad State Junior College in
Trinidad.
Other Resources
www.costillacounty-co.gov
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