Community of La Junta
Welcome to the community of La Junta, Colorado! Located in the Arkansas Valley sixty miles east of Pueblo on US Highway 50, the city of La Junta, Colorado, offers all the amenities of a larger metropolitan area but in a quiet small town setting.
The Junction on the Santa Fe Trail
In the early 1800s, the area that would someday become La Junta was the staging ground for some of the most exciting events in American history. At that time the plains around the Arkansas Valley ran with vast herds of buffalo and were home to the Comanche, Arapaho and Cheyenne. These were their favored buffalo hunting grounds. Because of this the Bent Brothers, William and Charles, established a fort along the river in 1833. Bent's Fort became the Southwest's most important outpost and a stopping place along the Santa Fe Trail for travelers, trappers, and explorers, including such western notables as John C. Fremont and Kit Carson.
The Santa Fe Trail continued in importance until the 1880s when the railroads arrived. Following the route of the Santa Fe Trail the arrival of the rails effectively made the old trail obsolete. In late 1875, a small settlement was established along the tracks and what would someday become La Junta began as a construction camp for the Santa Fe Railroad. The town, if it could be called as such, was a motley collection of tents and hastily built clap board structures. As with many of these "end of the line" railroad encampments of that time, the camp was quite lively, with no lack of "watering holes" and entertainment emporiums. The town was nearly forsaken after the railroad moved on in 1877; however, the Santa Fe Railroad recognized the value of the location, and built a depot and roundhouse there and by 1879 the Santa Fe RR shops had been established. This once rowdy town became the headquarters for the Santa Fe Railroad's Colorado Division.
On May 15, 1881 the residents of this small railroad supply town along the south bank of the Arkansas River incorporated and formed "The City of La Junta." The name "La Junta" is Spanish for junction or meeting place, and is pronounced "La Hunta". La Junta was truly the place where the rails and roads met and diverged to the mountain passes or the wide plains. Legend maintains that a herd of antelope ran down what passed for Main Street back then, prompting the city fathers to use antelopes on the city seal - where they can still be seen today.
La Junta: The "Smile High City"
By the turn of the 20th century La Junta was a town of substance with brick and stone buildings replacing the old wooden clap board structures. It was obvious, even back then; La Junta was here to stay. Today, La Junta may be considered a small town but it has amenities that are missing in much larger towns. The city of La Junta boasts not only Otero Junior College, but the Koshare Museum and Kiva, the Picketwire Playhouse, and Otero County Museum. La Junta is in the heart of Southeast Colorado's farming and ranching country. Some of the finest melons in the world are grown in Otero County - the Rocky Ford cantaloupes.
Hospitals
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center
Services Offered:
- 24-Hour Emergency Services
- Diagnostic Imaging, MRI, CT Scanner
- Intensive Care Unit
- Laboratory
- Lithotripsy
- OB/GYN Services
- Outpatient Rehabilitation
- Pain Management
- Respiratory Care
- Sleep Lab
- Women's Imaging
Visit their web site for more information: Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center
La Junta Parks and Playgrounds
- City Park, 12th & Colorado
- College Overlook Park, 16th & San Juan Ave.
- C.L. Red Crane Tot Park, 12 & Bradish
- Edison Park, 8th & Edison
- King Arroyo Mini-Park, 2nd & Lewis
- Potter Park, 5th & Grant
- Xeriscape Park, 5th & Adams
- Santa Fe Plaza, 1st & Santa Fe
Sports Complex and Ball Fields
- Big Potter Field, 5th & Grant
- Little Potter Field, 5th & Potter
- Prairie view Field, 200 Burshears
- Sports & Rec Complex, 22nd & Bradish
- Tiger Field, 22nd Street Complex
- Tippy Martinez, 16th & San Juan
- Veteran's Park, 5th & Adams
La Junta Schools
- East Elementary School, E. 6th Street
- La Junta High School, 1817 Smithland
- La Junta Middle School, 9th & Smithland
- New Columbian, 800 Grace
- West Elementary, 6th & Topeka
Visit their web site for more information: La Junta Schools
Higher Education
- Otero Junior College, 1802 Colorado Avenue
On September 15, 1941, "La Junta Junior College" opened its doors to the first class. The college was operated by the La Junta school district and was classified as a continuation school. On January 1, 1956, the college governing board voted to take over the existing facilities from the La Junta School District, and the college changed its name to "Otero Junior College." The college became primarily a transfer institution emphasizing the first two years of a four-year degree program. Today students from all over the state and even the world attend Otero Junior College.
Visit their web site for more information: Otero Junior College
Library
Woodruff Memorial Library
The new Woodruff Memorial Library was formally dedicated on April 23, 1997, exactly 76 years to the day since formal opening of a three thousand square foot building on the same site, the first to carry the name of Thomas T. Woodruff.
Through the changes of the past, into the present and as surely into the distant future, Woodruff Memorial Library remains faithful in serving the citizens of La Junta and the surrounding area. T. T. Woodruff’s dedication to providing for the information and literary needs of La Junta lives on in the library that bears his name.
Visit their web site for more information: Woodruff Memorial Library
Museums
La Junta has two premier museums; both offer extensive collections with an emphasis on local history and Native American art.
Otero Museum
The Otero Museum opened its doors in 1984 in response to the need to chronicle the fascinating history of La Junta and the surrounding area. Since its inception the museum has acquired an extensive collection of local artifacts, original buildings and historic pictures. Much of this material has been donated to the museum from local residents and represents a true interpretation of life in early day La Junta from the pioneer days, the railroad hey-day, and local businesses that shaped the development of the town. The preservation of La Junta’s history continues today through the dedication of volunteers who are striving to assemble informative and educational exhibits for the serious historian and casual visitor alike.
Visit their web site for more information: Otero Museum
Koshare Indian Museum
The Koshare Indian Museum began as a labor of love of J.F. "Buck" Burshears and Boy Scout Troop 232 of La Junta in 1933. Today the Koshare Indian Museum now houses an extensive collection of Native American art and artifacts; considered by many to be one of the finest collections in the world. The “Kiva” as it is called is located on the Otero Junior College campus and is unique in the fact that it was entirely built through the efforts of “Buck” and his Boy Scouts in 1949. The Kiva is registered state historic site of the Colorado Historical society. The museum is also the home the Koshare Indian Dancers of Boy Scout Troop 232 and Venturing Crew 230 of the Rocky Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America. They have been performing their interpretive Native American dance for over 65 years.
Visit their web site for more information: Koshare Indian Museum
Theater and Concerts
Picketwire Theater and the Picketwire Players
– La Junta has a special affection for the performing arts and the Picketwire Theater proves that. Utilizing local stone quarried from nearby locations the WPA built this historical theater during the height of the depression. The theater has been serving the community of La Junta and the surrounding area for more than 60 years. Special concerts and theater productions are performed here throughout the year, and the Picketwire Players, a local community group, call the theater home.
Picketwire Players – For a schedule of performances and ticket information visit the web site or call (719) 384-8320. Make sure to bring the family to see the performances put on by the talented actors and actresses year round. Picketwire Theater 802 San Juan, La Junta, CO 81050
Visit their web site for more information: Picketwire Theater
Ed Stafford Theater and the Otero Players
– The Ed Stafford Theater, home of the Otero Players, is located in the Humanities Building on the Otero Junior College campus. The Otero Players is an independent project of the Otero Junior College Department of Arts and made up of faculty members, students, college staff, and community volunteers who produce live theatrical events, stage plays, and mediated performances for a variety of venues.
Retirement Communities
Casa del Sol
Casa del Sol is an independent living retirement community located in the peaceful Arkansas Valley at the edge of La Junta, CO. This area offers a moderate climate and over 300 days of sunshine each year. We provide a retirement lifestyle which offers independence and companionship in a beautiful setting, without the worries of maintaining a home. Our campus consists of six eight-plexes, five duplexes, an activities center, and a workshop. This facility is available to adults 55 years of age and older.
Visit their web site for more information: Casa del Sol
Community Events
There is quite a lot to do in La Junta. In fact, there’s something for everybody with a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities in La Junta and the surrounding communities. The community offers special events throughout the year including but not limited to:
- Music at the Junction
- Early Settler’s Day
- La Junta Kids Rodeo
- Wake Up La Junta Breakfasts
- Arkansas Valley Fair (Rocky Ford)
Calendar of La Junta Events: La Junta Events
The City of La Junta Topographic Map
Run your mouse pointer over the yellow circles to view La Junta images ...
For more information please contact:
Ron Davis
Director of Economic Development
1802 Colorado Avenue
La Junta, Colorado 81050
office: (719) 384-6965
cell: (719) 469-1081
e-mail: ron.davis@ojc.edu
