Hugo, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hugo, Colorado
Statutory Town
Downtown Hugo, looking northwest along U.S. Highway 40 (2012)
Location within Lincoln County and Colorado
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Lincoln
Incorporated	June 21, 1909
Area
• Total	0.91 sq mi (2.36 km2)
• Land	0.91 sq mi (2.36 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	5,040 ft (1,540 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	787
• Density	865/sq mi (333.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP Code	80821
Area code	719
FIPS code	08-37875
GNIS ID	195141

Hugo is a small town in Colorado, United States. It is the main town, or "county seat," of Lincoln County, Colorado. In 2020, about 787 people lived there.

History of Hugo, Colorado

Hugo started around 1859 as a place for cattle ranchers. They supplied food and goods to miners. It was also a stop for stagecoaches carrying people and mail.

How Hugo Got Its Name

There are two stories about how Hugo got its name. One story says that railroad builders named it after Hugo Richards. He was an agent for a stagecoach company. Later, he became a banker and businessman in Arizona. Another story says the town was named after Richard Hugo, who was an early settler in the area. The town was officially founded in 1870 and became an incorporated town in 1909.

Geography of Hugo

Hugo is located in Colorado at 39°8′1″N 103°28′5″W / 39.13361°N 103.46806°W / 39.13361; -103.46806. The town covers about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land. Hugo is located at an elevation of about 5,039 feet (1,536 meters) above sea level.

Population of Hugo

In 2000, there were 885 people living in Hugo. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age of people in Hugo was 39 years.

Arts and Culture in Hugo

Hugo has several interesting places to visit. You can explore the Eastern Trails Museum and Cultural Arts Center. There's also the historic Hugo Kansas-Pacific/Union Pacific Roundhouse, which was a place where trains were repaired. You can also visit the Union Pacific Train Depot Town Museum and the historic Hedlund Museum House.

Hugo Public Library

The town's public library is located inside the Hugo municipal building. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.

Parks and Recreation in Hugo

Hugo offers many ways to have fun outdoors.

Hines Park

Hugo's main public park, called Hines Park, has a historic swimming pool. This pool was built in the 1930s as part of a Works Project Administration (WPA) program. It is now recognized as a historic site. The park also has picnic areas, playgrounds, a volleyball court, and a basketball court. The municipal building nearby has a racquetball court.

Nature Trails and Wildlife

The Coulson Nature Trail is a 2.5-mile (4 kilometer) path on the edge of town. It's perfect for hiking and seeing local wildlife. About 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) south of Hugo is the Kinney Lake State Wildlife Area. This area has a 10-acre lake for fishing and other water activities. You can also go camping and, during hunting season, hunt for deer, antelope, rabbits, coyotes, and waterfowl.

Education in Hugo

Students in Hugo attend schools in the Genoa-Hugo School District No. C-113. This district includes Genoa-Hugo Elementary School, Genoa-Hugo Middle School, and Genoa-Hugo High School.

Media in Hugo

The local newspaper for Hugo and nearby communities is called The Eastern Colorado Plainsman. It comes out every week. Hugo also has an FM radio station.

Notable People from Hugo

• Carl "Bev" Bledsoe - Carl Bledsoe was a rancher from Hugo. He served as the Speaker of the Colorado State House of Representatives for a long time, from 1981 to 1991. The Speaker is a leader in the state's government, helping to guide laws and discussions. He was first elected to the state legislature in 1972.

See also

In Spanish: Hugo (Colorado) para niños