History of Durango Colorado

The City of Durango was officially founded in September 1880 in anticipation of The Denver and Rio Grand Railroad, which reached Durango in August 1881. That's when Durango really began to blossom. Driven by mining and agriculture, Durango grew to become the center of economy and industry for the region. By July of 1882, the rails
were extended northward to Silverton, allowing for optimum mining for the region.

The turn of the 1900's marked the rise of tourism in Durango. Mesa Verde National Park opened in 1906 and people began to come to the area for all types of recreation. The Durango Municipal Airport opened in 1929, bringing more people from more places to this lovely corner of Colorado. Today, tourism is still one of the strongest industries in Durango. With the expansion of Fort Lewis College to a four-year college in 1957, students have steadily chosen Durango as their education locale. Purgatory Resort opened for skiing in 1965, adding to the natural allure of Durango and adding to its seasonal splendor. Hunters, bikers, campers, skiers, climbers, hikers, RV'ers, boaters, history buffs and many others have made Durango their home base for visiting or have made it their permanent home.

Durango has seen its ups and downs through the years. Whether it's the speculated drought that may have run the Ancestral Puebloans out of Mesa Verde in the 1300's, the Great Depression that made Durango bust, the recession of the 1970's, or the recent economic downturn, Durango has always come back stronger than ever. Durango does have its share of industry today and is home to many strong local and international businesses. Oil and gas also plays a strong role in the economic landscape of the region.

References:
The Durango Herald
Durango.com
Durangogov.org