Embedded Files
Plenty of Room to Grow
Plenty of Room to Grow
Our low-density population translates to opportunities for housing, agriculture, eco-tourism, and creative industries—letting you shape the future in a place that feels like family.
Our low-density population translates to opportunities for housing, agriculture, eco-tourism, and creative industries—letting you shape the future in a place that feels like family.
Small Town Community
Small Town Community
Fewer than 7,000 residents call Huerfano County home, giving us the “frontier” status that fosters genuine neighborly connections.
Fewer than 7,000 residents call Huerfano County home, giving us the “frontier” status that fosters genuine neighborly connections.
Perfectly Placed
Perfectly Placed
Nestled along the I-25 corridor, we are a natural gateway to Southern Colorado’s stunning mountain ranges, prairies, and dark skies. Huerfano is bordered by Saguache, Las Animas, Costilla, Pueblo, Custer, and Alamosa counties.
Nestled along the I-25 corridor, we are a natural gateway to Southern Colorado’s stunning mountain ranges, prairies, and dark skies. Huerfano is bordered by Saguache, Las Animas, Costilla, Pueblo, Custer, and Alamosa counties.
Generational Balance
Generational Balance
With Baby Boomers and Gen X making up a significant portion of the population, our community embraces a blend of seasoned wisdom and forward-thinking ideas.
With Baby Boomers and Gen X making up a significant portion of the population, our community embraces a blend of seasoned wisdom and forward-thinking ideas.
Ample Outdoor Recreation
Ample Outdoor Recreation
Surrounded by mountain vistas and rolling prairies, residents and tourists enjoy gravel road biking, road cycling, hiking, horseback riding, archery, disc golf, camping, fishing, golf, and endless dark-sky starry nights.
Surrounded by mountain vistas and rolling prairies, residents and tourists enjoy gravel road biking, road cycling, hiking, horseback riding, archery, disc golf, camping, fishing, golf, and endless dark-sky starry nights.
Small Business Potential
Small Business Potential
Growing interest in rural tourism and cultural events makes our region prime for new shops, eateries, and creative ventures.
Growing interest in rural tourism and cultural events makes our region prime for new shops, eateries, and creative ventures.
Supportive Network
Supportive Network
Local nonprofits and county leadership partner with businesses to spark fresh programs helping turn big ideas into hometown success stories.
Local nonprofits and county leadership partner with businesses to spark fresh programs helping turn big ideas into hometown success stories.
Community Challenges
Community Challenges
Topic, Key Statistic/Quote, Why It Matters
Topic, Key Statistic/Quote, Why It Matters
Demographics & Vulnerability
Demographics & Vulnerability
Population & Age
County population is 6,945—down 11 % since 2005; by 2030 35% of residents will be 65+ (statewide share = 18%).
Rapid aging strains the labor pool and boosts demand for senior-friendly housing, health, and social outlets.
Disability
22% of residents report a disability (double the state rate); half of people 75+ have mobility limits.
High share of residents need accessible housing, transit, and venues.
Labor & Income
June 2023 unemployment 5.7% – highest in Colorado; labor-force participation just 46% vs 67% statewide.
Signals limited wages, tax base, and youth retention challenges.
Poverty
80% of unemployed residents live below poverty; family poverty rate 14% (double the state).
Poverty intersects with housing, food security, and health outcomes.
Housing Stress & Accessibility
Housing Stress & Accessibility
Housing Supply
Market needs 533 additional rental units (up from 518 in 2019).
Acute shortage across nearly every income band.
Affordability Gap
Avg. wage $42,336 supports $192k home, but 2023 average sale prices range $263k–$470k.
Working households priced out; drives out-migration.
Rental Vacancy
Vacancy fell to ≈0% (2017-20) and is still only 3-4%.
Tight market fuels rent hikes and overcrowding.
Substandard Units
55% of survey respondents cite poor-quality housing as a top issue.
Rehab and code-enforcement resources are limited.
Infrastructure & Isolation
Infrastructure & Isolation
Transportation Cost
Housing + transport eats 67% of median income; 13% of households spend 87%+.
Long commutes and no transit magnify cost-of-living stress.
Remote Living
Gardner residents drive 35 miles one way for groceries; no public transit or broadband.
Rural isolation compounds food, fuel, and healthcare access issues.
Outdoor Tourism
Lathrop State Park draws 100k+ visits/yr; trip spending averages $45–$87 per visitor per day.
Recreation is a growth sector but requires supporting amenities.
Cultural Hub Deficit
The county “lacks accessible cultural hubs”; Fox Theatre is the lone indoor venue and needs major repairs.
Central space for intergenerational programs is critical to social cohesion.
Economic Opportunity & Constraints
Economic Opportunity & Constraints
Entrepreneurship
Interviews highlight demand for retail, food processing, and small-biz support; the county provides some incentives but ecosystem gaps persist.
Local job creation hinges on tailored small-business infrastructure.
Core Community Needs Emerging from the Data
Core Community Needs Emerging from the Data
Affordable, Quality Housing
Gaps: 533 rentals needed; rising prices outpace wages; half-century-old housing stock; 55 % cite substandard units.
Implications: Incentives for mixed-income projects, rehab funds, senior/ADA-ready designs, land-bank & code enforcement.
Living-Wage Jobs & Workforce Development
Highest unemployment in Colorado, low participation, youth commuting 50+ miles.
Strategies: skill training in construction/renewables, support for ag-tech & outdoor-rec startups, paid youth leadership programs.
Senior Services & Aging-in-Place Infrastructure
One-third of residents will soon be seniors; 12 % already in poverty; 22 % countywide disability.
Needs: accessible housing retrofits, transportation vouchers, health outreach, daytime social programming.
Cultural & Civic “Third Places”
Data repeatedly calls out isolation and lack of gathering space. Revitalizing Fox Theatre and similar hubs addresses mental health, youth engagement, and creative economy goals.
Food Security & Healthy Retail
Gardner sub-region labeled a food desert; propane, pharmacy, and grocery all 35 mi away.
Community-services co-op, mobile markets, and regional food-hub development rise to the top.
Entrepreneur & Small-Business Ecosystem
Interviews show potential in forest products, outdoor recreation, and niche manufacturing—yet capital, coaching, and market access lag.
Priorities: SBDC satellite, low-interest micro-loans, shared commercial kitchens, and tourism-linked maker spaces.
Infrastructure Resilience (Water, Drainage, Energy)
Fox Theatre suffers flooding; industrial attraction requires reliable power and water; climate projections elevate wildfire and drought risk.
Investment in storm-water, broadband, and renewable micro-grids dovetails with economic and health goals.
Page updated
Report abuse