La Junta is located in southeastern Colorado, about 60 miles east of Pueblo. The county seat of Otero County, La Junta has for more than a hundred years formed a junction for commercial, agricultural, and ranching ventures. Before that La Junta was the junction where the Santa Fe Trail branched south to New Mexico, while a lesser route continued west to Pueblo and beyond. The Santa Fe Trail was one of the nation's first great trade routes.


Our town sits on the south bank of the Arkansas River in what is primarily shortgrass prairie country. The mountains for which Colorado is so famous can be seen to the west, but this is rolling prairie land. Farming dominates the landscape in a narrow corridor along the river, while a short excursion north or south of US Highway 50 brings travelers to miles upon miles of grasslands.

 

We are home to a regional medical center and specialty clinics, as well as a number of retirement communities. We have an excellent K-12 school system, and Otero Junior College. The college hosts a number of technical certificate programs, a well-regarded nursing program, and a law enforcement academy. The City hosts a number of light industries and an airport in an industrial park north of town, a railyard, and a downtown business district typical of small western towns.

 

Our city parks serve as centers for community activity. The fountain in City Park serves as a backdrop to kids fishing and playing; our ball fields are filled with tournaments of all kinds, all summer long. We have roadside farm markets, and ties to our railroading past and our history that go back before the fur trade. Our schools excel academically, and support for high school sports rises to the level of fanaticism.


Mailing address:

 

City of La Junta

601 Colorado Avenue

PO Box 489

La Junta, CO 81050

General information phone: 719.384.5991

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Downtown La Junta Historic Resource Survey: A Key to the Past

 

One thing most La Juntans are passionate about is our history.

 

In June 2022, Clerestory Preservation and Pine Street Preservation completed a survey of La Junta’s historic downtown for the La Junta Certified Local Government (LJ CLG) board. The study was paid for in part by the LJ CLG and the Colorado Certified Local Government Grant.

 

The purpose of the individual survey forms, which are wonderful histories of individual downtown buildings, is an encapsulation of La Junta’s changing economic and built environment history. To many of us, it’s akin to reading a collection of short stories with great photographs about our beloved city.

 

Enjoy, and please pass on the existence of this treasure with your friends.

 

The survey forms are downloadable in two zipped packages:

 

https://lajuntacolorado.org/publicnotices/econdev/finalforms/finalintensiveforms.zip (92 mb)

 

and

 

https://lajuntacolorado.org/publicnotices/econdev/finalforms/finalreconforms.zip (109 mb)

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Through UnitedHealthcare, UMR and HealthSCOPE Benefits creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of the City of La Junta.

 

To link to the Machine-Readable Files, please click on the URL provided:

 

https://transparency-in-coverage.uhc.com/

 

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The City of La Junta has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Part 26.

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The Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development team, the Southern Colorado Economic Development District and High Prairie Homes will deliver 127 dwellings, including single family homes and duplexes, in 2022-2023.

 

This project is a concerted effort and regional partnership between local, county, state, and federal governments. Attainable housing that is long-term, safe and energy efficient, will provide opportunities for both home ownership and rentals to the local workforce.

Download the SCED information packet here.

 

Public Notices

City Departments

GIS Zoning Map

  • GIS Link

    • Financial data

    Municipal forms

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