Eastern Mojave Vegetation
|
Eastern Mojave Vegetation
| Ouray, Ouray County, Colorado. |
|
Gazetteer Query: G.N.I.S. See also: Box Canyon. |
||||
|
Ouray is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Ouray County, Colorado, United States.
The city population was 898 as of the 2020 census.
Located at an elevation of 7,792 feet (2,375 m), Ouray's climate, natural alpine environment,
and scenery have earned it the nickname "Switzerland of America".
Ouray is located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
It is about 40 miles (64 km) south of Montrose.
It is only 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Telluride, but due to the severity of the landscape,
the drive is about 50 miles (80 km).
Ouray is connected to Silverton and then Durango to the south by Red Mountain Pass
which crests at just over 11,000 feet (3,400 m).
The drive along the Uncompahgre River and over the pass is nicknamed the "Million Dollar Highway",
although the exact origin of the name is disputed.
Established by miners seeking silver and gold in the surrounding mountains, the town once boasted more horses and mules than people. Prospectors arrived in the area in 1875. After changing its name together with the county's name several times, the town was incorporated on October 2, 1876, named after Chief Ouray of the Utes, a Native American tribe. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway arrived in Ouray on December 21, 1887. It continued until automobile and truck traffic caused ridership to drop. The last regularly scheduled passenger train was September 14, 1930. The line between Ouray and Ridgway was abandoned on March 21, 1953. The entirety of Main Street is registered as a National Historic District with most buildings dating from the late nineteenth century. The Beaumont Hotel and the Ouray City Hall and Walsh Library are listed on the National Register of Historic Places individually, while the Ouray County Courthouse, St. Elmo Hotel, St. Joseph's Miners' Hospital (housing the Ouray County Historical Society and Museum), Western Hotel, and Wright's Opera House are within the historic district.
Articles that refer to this location:
| ||||
| No collections made at this location. | ||||
| If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address. |
A, B, C,
D, E, F,
G, H, I,
J, K, L,
M, Date and time this article was prepared:3:15:21 PM, 8/1/2026. | |||
