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Durango, Colorado

Durango is the home rule city that is the county seat of and the most populous municipality of La Plata County, Colorado, United States.
Population 19,071

Top Events in Durango History

1
1880Government
The Durango, Colorado, post office opened on November 19, 1880, and the Town of Durango was incorporated on April 27, 1881.
2
1948Culture
Parts of the 1948 film Colorado Territory were filmed in the Durango area including the Railroad Depot and the D&RGW's railroad line south to Farmington, New Mexico.
3
1951Infrastructure
The Rio Grande Southern lost its contract to transport mail in 1951, and soon thereafter suspended operations.
4
1952Military
Much of the 1952 film Denver and Rio Grande was shot on whats now the D&RGW's Silverton Branch, retelling the story of the D&RG's battle for rights into the Royal Gorge, against...
5
1953Military
Much of the 1953 western movie The Naked Spur starring James Stewart was shot in Durango.
6
1955Culture
Several parts of the 1955 western film Run for Cover starring James Cagney, were filmed just north of Durango in and around the upper Hermosa Valley area.
7
1957Military
Portions of the 1957 western Night Passage starring a returning James Stewart, as well as Audie Murphy and Brandon deWilde were filmed near Durango and on the D&RGW's Silverton ...
8
1972Government
=== Iron Horse Bicycle Classic === Founded in 1972, the Iron Horse is a 61-mile (98 km) bicycle road race held annually in Durango.
9
1978History
The 1978 Roger Corman film Avalanche, starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, was filmed mainly at Durango Mountain Resort and at the Lodge at Tamarron in north Durango.
10
1983Culture
Since 1983, each year's festival has been given a unique theme.

Historical Timeline

1880Government
The Durango, Colorado, post office opened on November 19, 1880, and the Town of Durango was incorporated on April 27, 1881.
1948Culture
Parts of the 1948 film Colorado Territory were filmed in the Durango area including the Railroad Depot and the D&RGW's railroad line south to Farmington, New Mexico.
1951Infrastructure
The Rio Grande Southern lost its contract to transport mail in 1951, and soon thereafter suspended operations.
1952Military
Much of the 1952 film Denver and Rio Grande was shot on whats now the D&RGW's Silverton Branch, retelling the story of the D&RG's battle for rights into the Royal Gorge, against...
1953Military
Much of the 1953 western movie The Naked Spur starring James Stewart was shot in Durango.
1955Culture
Several parts of the 1955 western film Run for Cover starring James Cagney, were filmed just north of Durango in and around the upper Hermosa Valley area.
1957Military
Portions of the 1957 western Night Passage starring a returning James Stewart, as well as Audie Murphy and Brandon deWilde were filmed near Durango and on the D&RGW's Silverton ...
1972Government
=== Iron Horse Bicycle Classic === Founded in 1972, the Iron Horse is a 61-mile (98 km) bicycle road race held annually in Durango.
1978History
The 1978 Roger Corman film Avalanche, starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, was filmed mainly at Durango Mountain Resort and at the Lodge at Tamarron in north Durango.
1983Culture
Since 1983, each year's festival has been given a unique theme.
1991Culture
Part of the 1991 film City Slickers was shot in Durango.
1993Culture
Parts of the 1993 film Cliffhanger were shot in Durango.
1999History
The 1999 movie Durango Kids describes a time tunnel in the old mines outside of Durango.
2000History
== Demographics == As of the 2000 census, there were 13,922 people, 5,492 households, and 2,603 families residing in the city.
2014Military
As of 2014, regional connecting hubs to DRO include Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Denver International Airpo...
2018Government
Since 2018, Road Runner's service has been incorporated into the larger mantle of the state-run program Bustang.
2023Education
According to Durango's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the city's top employers are: == Education == Durango is served by Durango School District 9-R.
2024History
As of 2024, 3,544 students were enrolled at FLC.

Did You Know?

1
Durango is located in the state of Colorado.
2
Durango has a population of 19,071 residents.
3
The city population was 19,071 at the 2020 United States census.

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Famous People from Durango, Colorado

CF
Carlos Graef Fernández
Physicist, Mathematician · Born Feb 25, 1911 · Died Jan 13, 1988 (age 76)
LR
Lico Reyes
Mexican-American Actor, Politician · Born Apr 4, 1946 · Died Aug 20, 2019 (age 73)
LV
Leopoldo Salazar Viniegra
Doctor, Psychiatrist · Born Dec 17, 1898 · Died Sep 23, 1957 (age 58)
RO
Raúl Meza Ontiveros
Drug Lord
AD
Antonio Peña Díaz
Biochemist
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