The Wet Mountains are a small mountain range in southern Colorado , named for the amount of snow they receive in the winter as compared to the dry Great Plains to the east. They are a sub-range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains , in the southern Rocky Mountains System. There are three variant names of mountain range: Cuerno Verde , Greenhorn Mountains , and Sierra Mojada .
21-569: Most of the Wet Mountains are within Custer County , stretching into Fremont County to the north, Huerfano County to the south, and Pueblo County to the east. The range runs approximately north to south from U.S. Highway 50 to Walsenburg a distance of more than 40 miles (64 km). The range is up to about 12 miles (19 km) wide and is bordered on the east by the Great Plains and on
42-501: A historical landmark in the town of Westcliffe. After the mines were exhausted, the population dropped considerably and was replaced by cattle ranchers. An extensive system of irrigation ditches was built throughout the valley. Ranching in the Wet Mountain Valley continues to this day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 740 square miles (1,900 km ), of which 739 square miles (1,910 km )
63-473: A household in the county was $ 34,731, and the median income for a family was $ 41,198. Males had a median income of $ 32,460 versus $ 20,868 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,817. About 9.80% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over. Median household income (adjusted for inflation) dropped from $ 49,184 in 2009 to $ 32,261 in 2014, which made
84-489: Is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km ) (0.2%) is water. The county is very rugged and would be virtually inaccessible without roads. The lowest point of the county is around 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation, but most of the county is rugged and mountainous. The county seat of Westcliffe is about 7,800 feet (2,400 m) and along with nearby town Silver Cliff lies in the Wet Mountain Valley which sits at
105-473: Is now a ghost town after a period of gold and silver mining over the past two centuries. The summit of SH 96 in Hardscrabble Canyon has no official name, but is known locally as Hardscrabble Pass , elevation 9085 ft (2769 m). Its broad saddle is just east of Silver Cliff. The summit of SH 165 is Bigelow Divide , elevation 9403 ft (2866 m), near Ophir Creek Campground. The intersection of
126-584: The 2020 U.S. Census , the population was 435. Westcliffe had its start in 1881 when the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad was extended to that point. Westcliffe is located west of the geographic center of Custer County in the Wet Mountain Valley , between the Wet Mountains to the east and the Sangre de Cristo Range to the west. The town of Silver Cliff is immediately to the east of Westcliffe. According to
147-501: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km ), all of it land. Westcliffe, and neighboring Silver Cliff, Colorado , are recognized as IDA International Dark Sky Communities by The International Dark-Sky Association . Gentle persuasion has resulted in residents and business in the towns and surrounding ranch land reducing the amount of light pollution . Locals have set up
168-621: The IT department of Custer County Custer County is overall very conservative and heavily Republican. The most important election is not the general election , but the primary election between members of the Republican Party in August. During the 2004 presidential election , well over 60% of Custer County voters voted for the Republican candidates including George W. Bush and Pete Coors . Despite
189-505: The base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west reach heights in excess of 14,000 feet (4,300 m) with Crestone Peak being the highest at 14,294 feet (4,357 m) and 7th highest fourteener in Colorado . A large percentage of the county is National Forest land in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the west side and in the Wet Mountains on
210-663: The county during this time in the hunt for silver. Some of the notable mines include the Geyser Mine (on the north edge of the town of Silver Cliff), the Bassick Mine (near the ghost town of Querida ) and the Bull Domingo (north of Silver Cliff). During the late 19th century a railroad line was connected through the Grape Creek Canyon but was permanently closed after a few disastrous floods. The old rail house has been turned into
231-611: The county the third worst performing county in this respect in the country. The county is governed by three county commissioners who are elected to 4-year terms with a term limit of two. In 2023, the county was represented by: -District 1: Bill Canda (Republican), serving from 2022 to 2026. 2nd term -District 2: Kevin Day (Republican), serving from 2020 to 2024. 1st term. -District 3: Lucas Epp (Republican), serving from 2020 to 2024. 1st term. There are several other public offices including Coroner, Sheriff, County Clerk and others. Updated by
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#1732851260699252-560: The county was 95.89% White , 0.37% Black or African American , 1.11% Native American , 0.29% Asian , 0.71% from other races , and 1.63% from two or more races. 2.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,480 households, out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who
273-477: The east. The only lake of size is the DeWeese Reservoir in the north end of the Wet Mountain Valley. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,503 people, 1,480 households, and 1,077 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km ). There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5 units/km ). The racial makeup of
294-406: The mountains, Highway 96 weaves its way down to Wetmore by way of Hardscrabble Canyon and is one of only three main exits from the valley. The only other highway in the range is Highway 165 , which travels through the range to Rye and Colorado City , and can also be noted for Lake Isabel and Bishop's Castle . Other towns/communities in the small range include Beulah and Rosita , which
315-457: The population would like to see less government and less restrictions on growth and development for the growth of business and the economy. Proponents are seen as " anti-environment " or "anti-agriculture." 38°05′N 105°22′W / 38.09°N 105.36°W / 38.09; -105.36 Westcliffe, Colorado Westcliffe is a statutory town that is the county seat of Custer County , Colorado , United States. At
336-474: The southern end and in the northwest. The range lies on the southeast end of the Central Colorado volcanic field and contains Eocene to Oligocene (38–29 Ma) volcanic rocks and carbonatites . Custer County, Colorado Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado . As of the 2020 census , the population was 4,704. The county seat is Westcliffe . Custer County
357-469: The surface appearance of a homogeneous political culture, there is considerable dispute among residents over planning. One segment of residents (which includes ranchers) would like to see the County preserved in its present state as a mountain paradise with its rural ranching culture, with strict limitation on development. Proponents are sometimes seen as "anti-growth" and "anti-property rights." Another segment of
378-445: The two highways, between Silver Cliff and Wetmore, is McKenzie Junction, elevation 8359 ft. The gravel road that connects SH 78 from Beulah to SH 165 is known locally as Bathtub Pass, for a discarded roadside clawfoot bathtub . The Wet Mountains are the east flank of an uplifted faulted anticline . The core of the range consists of Precambrian granitic rocks with Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata in fault contact around
399-557: The west by the Wet Mountain Valley . The highest point is known as Greenhorn Mountain , which has multiple peaks, the highest of which reaches 12,346 feet (3,763 m). Greenhorn Peak, St. Charles Peak, and North Peak all reach above tree line . Most of the Wet Mountains are within the San Isabel National Forest . To the west the adjacent Wet Mountain Valley contains the small towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff . Within
420-459: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.77. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 35.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males. The median income for
441-578: Was created by the Colorado legislature on March 9, 1877, out of the southern half of Fremont County . It was named in honor of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer , who had died the previous year. Originally set in Ula , the county seat moved to Rosita in 1878, and to Silver Cliff in 1886 before settling in Westcliffe in 1928. The county was the site of a silver rush during the 1870s. Thousands of men poured into
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