Huerfano County is a county in Colorado, United States, in the south-central part of the state at the foot of the Spanish Peaks. It had a population of 6,820 at the 2020 census and covers 1,593 square miles (4,127 km2) centred near 37°41′N 104°58′W.
Walsenburg is the county seat and its postal code is 81089. The county has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, one census-designated place and a handful of unincorporated communities and former mining camps. It observes Mountain time and carries FIPS code 08055.
Towns & Villages in Huerfano County
Huerfano County has a small, thinly settled roster of places: Walsenburg is its only city, La Veta its only incorporated town, and Gardner its lone census-designated place (CDP). The rest are unincorporated communities or coal-camp sites, some now largely abandoned.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walsenburg | City · seat | 2,631 | 81089 |
| La Veta | Town | 749 | 81055 |
| Gardner | CDP | 236 | 81040 |
| Cuchara | Unincorp. | — | 81055 |
| Farisita | Unincorp. | — | 81040 |
| Red Wing | Unincorp. | — | 81089 |
| Chama | Unincorp. | — | 81089 |
| Badito | Unincorp. | — | 81089 |
| Malachite | Unincorp. | — | 81055 |
| Muleshoe | Unincorp. | — | 81040 |
| Alamo | Ghost town | — | — |
| Delcarbon | Ghost town | — | — |
| Tioga | Ghost town | — | — |
| Rouse | Ghost town | — | — |
Several names on old settlement lists for Huerfano County — Apache City, Bradford, Codo, Cuchara Junction, Lascar, Maitland, Monson, Occidental, Pictou, Pryor and Strong — were early-1900s coal-camp sites tied to the county’s short coal boom; none has a confirmed current population or ZIP code, so they are omitted here pending better sourcing rather than listed with guessed data.
ZIP Codes
- 81089 — Walsenburg (also serves Red Wing, Chama and Badito)
- 81055 — La Veta (also serves Cuchara and Malachite)
- 81040 — Gardner (also serves Farisita and Muleshoe)
The county’s three standard-delivery ZIP codes cover its entire settled area; there are no PO-Box-only or single-entity ZIPs.
Geography
Huerfano County spans the transition from the high plains east of Walsenburg to the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Range in the west, with the twin summits of the Spanish Peaks rising over 13,000 feet near La Veta. Over 500 volcanic dikes radiate outward from the peaks, among the largest such dike fields in the world. The Cucharas River drains the county’s western half toward the Arkansas River basin.
Huerfano County borders Pueblo County to the north, Las Animas County to the southeast, Costilla County to the southwest, Alamosa County to the west, and Custer County and Saguache County to the northwest.
Demographics
The county’s population was 6,820 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 4.3 people per square mile. Walsenburg and La Veta are its two largest communities. Median household income in Huerfano County runs well below the Colorado median of $92,911, reflecting the county’s rural, post-coal economy. Its population is ethnically mixed, with a substantial Hispanic and Latino share tracing to the region’s Spanish and Mexican land-grant history.
Economy & Local Life
Huerfano County’s economy shifted from coal mining, which drove rapid early-1900s growth, to a mix of ranching, tourism and second-home development around Cuchara and La Veta after the mines closed. The Cuchara Mountain Park area and the Spanish Peaks draw hikers, hunters and campers; La Veta hosts an arts community and small galleries built around its historic downtown. Walsenburg serves as the county’s commercial and government center, anchored by the Huerfano County Courthouse and local schools.
History
Huerfano County was created November 1, 1861, as one of the original 17 counties of the Colorado Territory. Its name comes from the Spanish word huérfano, “orphan,” after Huerfano Butte, a solitary volcanic formation on the plains northeast of Walsenburg. Coal mining transformed the county in the early 1900s, drawing immigrant labor from Italy, Mexico, Slovenia and elsewhere into camps such as Rouse, Pictou and Cuchara Junction. Demand collapsed after World War II, and Walsenburg and the county’s population declined for decades afterward.
Getting There
Interstate 25 runs north–south through Walsenburg, meeting US 160 there and continuing south toward Trinidad. US 85 and US 87 also pass through the county along the I-25 corridor.
- Pueblo — 45 miles north
- Trinidad — 40 miles south
- Colorado Springs — 90 miles north
- Alamosa — 60 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Colorado Springs Airport; Pueblo Memorial Airport offers limited regional service closer to the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Huerfano County?
It is in south-central Colorado, along the I-25 corridor between Pueblo and Trinidad, at the foot of the Spanish Peaks.
What is the population of Huerfano County?
6,820 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Huerfano County?
1,593 square miles (4,127 km2).
What is the county seat of Huerfano County?
Walsenburg, the county’s only city.
How many towns are in Huerfano County?
One incorporated city (Walsenburg), one incorporated town (La Veta), one CDP (Gardner) and several smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Huerfano County?
81089 (Walsenburg), 81055 (La Veta) and 81040 (Gardner).
Why is it called Huerfano County?
It is named for Huerfano Butte, a lone volcanic hill whose name comes from the Spanish word for “orphan.”
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Colorado.