Ancient ruins are located all around, many that have been excavated are open to visitors. Photo by: /cortezculutralcenterĪrchaeological Sites – The southwest region of Colorado was once settled by the Anasazi or Ancient Puebloan people. Main Attractions Amphitheater at the Cortez Cultural Center. Mesa Verde National Park drew visitors in, and the large amounts of surrounding public land required a lot of government officials to maintain it all. Many farmers left, however the Dust Bowl pushed migrants from neighboring states into town.Ĭortez went through many more ups and downs until it finally stabilized in the 1960s, depending on tourism and government to provide continuous support for the economy. World War 1, an epidemic, unstable markets, and dry summers threatened the stability of the whole community. Cortez stayed resilient and continued to expand until the early 1900s.ġ911 brought a terrible storm that washed out many of the town’s crops and irrigation systems. The lack of a local railroad line started to become a problem for transportation. However they needed water to make their plans work, so a large group of men started creating a diversion system from the Dolores River.įarming and cattle ranching boomed in town and eventually, Cortez became a supply hub for surrounding towns. There was a theory that the soil in the Montezuma Valley would be perfect for farming. Photo by: Jeffrey BeallĬortez is unique in that it wasn’t originally established to be a mining town. It resides at an elevation of 6,191 feet and offers easy access to many outdoor attractions in neighboring states. Located in Montezuma County, Cortez is the county’s largest city and county seat. The historic downtown section is several blocks, all lined with nice shops and restaurants.
Cortez is one of the largest towns in Southwest Colorado, secluded near the Four Corners.
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