Monte Vista, Colorado

Coordinates: 37°34′38″N 106°8′45″W / 37.57722°N 106.14583°W / 37.57722; -106.14583
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Monte Vista, Colorado
City of Monte Vista[1]
Downtown Monte Vista in late 2012
Downtown Monte Vista in late 2012
Motto: 
Experience the Full Monte
Location of the City of Monte Vista in Rio Grande County, Colorado
Location of the City of Monte Vista in Rio Grande County, Colorado
Monte Vista is located in the United States
Monte Vista
Monte Vista
Location of the City of Monte Vista in the United States.
Coordinates: 37°34′38″N 106°8′45″W / 37.57722°N 106.14583°W / 37.57722; -106.14583
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyRio Grande County[2]
CityMonte Vista[1]
IncorporatedSeptember 27, 1886[3]
Government
 • TypeHome rule municipality[1]
Area
 • Total2.65 sq mi (6.87 km2)
 • Land2.63 sq mi (6.82 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation7,664 ft (2,336 m)
Population
 • Total4,247
 • Density1,600/sq mi (620/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
ZIP codes[7]
81135 (PO Box), 81144
Area code719
FIPS code08-51635
GNIS feature ID0204764 [5]
WebsiteCity of Monte Vista

The City of Monte Vista is the home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 4,247 at the 2020 Census.[6]

History[edit]

Monte Vista was laid out in 1884. The site had previously served as a watering stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.[8] Monte Vista is the Spanish translation of "mountain view."[9]

Geography[edit]

Monte Vista is located in the San Luis Valley at 37°34′38″N 106°8′45″W / 37.57722°N 106.14583°W / 37.57722; -106.14583 (37.577287, -106.145828).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (2.56%) is water.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890780
1900556−28.7%
19102,544357.6%
19202,484−2.4%
19302,6105.1%
19403,20822.9%
19503,2722.0%
19603,3853.5%
19703,90915.5%
19803,902−0.2%
19904,32410.8%
20004,5294.7%
20104,444−1.9%
20204,247−4.4%

Culture[edit]

Monte Vista is served by the Carnegie Public Library.

Every March, nearly 20,000 Sandhill Cranes descend on the San Luis Valley before continuing their northward spring migration.

Climate[edit]

Monte Vista has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).

Climate data for Monte Vista 2W, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, 1893-2020 extremes: 7695ft (2345m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16)
65
(18)
73
(23)
78
(26)
89
(32)
92
(33)
96
(36)
90
(32)
87
(31)
80
(27)
69
(21)
61
(16)
96
(36)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 47.8
(8.8)
52.7
(11.5)
65.9
(18.8)
72.2
(22.3)
79.0
(26.1)
86.7
(30.4)
88.0
(31.1)
84.7
(29.3)
81.3
(27.4)
74.7
(23.7)
62.2
(16.8)
51.1
(10.6)
88.8
(31.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.1
(0.6)
39.6
(4.2)
51.5
(10.8)
58.8
(14.9)
67.1
(19.5)
77.2
(25.1)
80.1
(26.7)
77.8
(25.4)
72.5
(22.5)
61.6
(16.4)
48.1
(8.9)
34.5
(1.4)
58.5
(14.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 15.4
(−9.2)
22.3
(−5.4)
33.7
(0.9)
40.5
(4.7)
49.2
(9.6)
57.7
(14.3)
62.5
(16.9)
60.6
(15.9)
53.7
(12.1)
42.4
(5.8)
29.9
(−1.2)
17.2
(−8.2)
40.4
(4.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) −2.2
(−19.0)
5.0
(−15.0)
15.8
(−9.0)
22.2
(−5.4)
31.4
(−0.3)
38.3
(3.5)
44.9
(7.2)
43.3
(6.3)
34.8
(1.6)
23.2
(−4.9)
11.7
(−11.3)
−0.1
(−17.8)
22.4
(−5.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −15.2
(−26.2)
−10.5
(−23.6)
0.3
(−17.6)
10.1
(−12.2)
21.4
(−5.9)
30.8
(−0.7)
39.2
(4.0)
37.7
(3.2)
25.8
(−3.4)
10.6
(−11.9)
−3.3
(−19.6)
−14.1
(−25.6)
−19.5
(−28.6)
Record low °F (°C) −38
(−39)
−31
(−35)
−16
(−27)
−2
(−19)
9
(−13)
23
(−5)
31
(−1)
27
(−3)
15
(−9)
−6
(−21)
−22
(−30)
−29
(−34)
−38
(−39)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.40
(10)
0.32
(8.1)
0.66
(17)
0.66
(17)
0.81
(21)
0.50
(13)
1.48
(38)
1.64
(42)
1.11
(28)
0.83
(21)
0.41
(10)
0.41
(10)
9.23
(235.1)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.00
(15.2)
4.50
(11.4)
6.50
(16.5)
4.80
(12.2)
1.20
(3.0)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
2.80
(7.1)
3.90
(9.9)
5.70
(14.5)
35.4
(89.8)
Source 1: NOAA[11]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins)[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Monte Vista, Colorado
  6. ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "Monte Vista city, Colorado". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
  8. ^ Fielder, John (2002). John Fielder's Best of Colorado. Big Earth Publishing. p. 319. ISBN 9781565794290. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  9. ^ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 35.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Monte Vista 2W, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 7, 2024.

External links[edit]