Pueblo West, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pueblo West, Colorado
Census Designated Place
Flag
Motto(s):  "Where Eagles Soar"
Location of the Pueblo West CDP in Pueblo County, Colorado.
Pueblo West, Colorado Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Pueblo County
Founded	1970
Government
• Type	metropolitan district
Area
• Total	49.708 sq mi (128.744 km2)
• Land	49.688 sq mi (128.692 km2)
• Water	0.020 sq mi (0.052 km2)
Elevation	5,033 ft (1,534 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	33,086
• Density	665.603/sq mi (256.991/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code	81007
Area code(s)	719
GNIS feature ID	2409109

Pueblo West is a community in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. Pueblo West is part of the larger Pueblo area.

In 2020, about 33,086 people lived in Pueblo West. The Pueblo West Metropolitan District helps provide important services to the community. The local post office uses the Zip Code 81007 for mail in Pueblo West.

History of Pueblo West

Early days of Pueblo West.

Before Pueblo West was built, this area was mostly open rangeland. It was once home to the Ute and Comanche Native American people. More recently, the land was used for ranching, with water from the Arkansas River helping the farms.

In 1969, a land developer named Robert P. McCulloch started the Pueblo West Metropolitan District. He was inspired by the nearby City of Pueblo, Colorado. McCulloch had also successfully created Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Soon after, McCulloch built the Pueblo West Inn. Guests stayed there to learn about and buy land in the new community. By 1974, over 2,000 people had moved to Pueblo West. Pueblo School District 70 opened Pueblo West Elementary with 200 students. Later, McCulloch's company faced challenges regarding land sales and had to give refunds to some customers.

Since the 1970s, Pueblo West has grown a lot. New places for fun and work were created. These included the South Equestrian Center and the Pueblo West Golf and Tennis Club. A manufacturing company called Aspen Skiwear also started here.

By the early 1980s, nearly 4,500 people lived in Pueblo West. This led to the building of Pueblo West Middle School. The economy also grew with new businesses in the North Industrial Park.

In the 1990s, the population boomed, and several new elementary schools were built. Pueblo West High School opened its doors in 1996. In the early 2000s, a system of trails was created for outdoor activities. An extra fire station was also built to serve the northern part of the community. Pueblo West also joined an agreement to get water from the Pueblo Reservoir for Colorado Springs. Today, Pueblo West is home to over 30,000 people and has a growing business center.

In 2019, the Pueblo West Metro District Board began studying if the community should become its own official town.

Geography of Pueblo West

A view of Pueblo West.

Pueblo West covers about 49 square miles. It is located along the southern part of Colorado's main growth area. The community is on Highway 50, about 7 miles west of the City of Pueblo. It is also about 38 miles east of Cañon City.

U.S. Route 50 cuts through Pueblo West. Its northeastern edge is next to Interstate 25. Lake Pueblo State Park is along the southern border of Pueblo West. Most of the rest of the community is surrounded by ranch land and private property.

The Pueblo West CDP covers about 128.744 square kilometers (31,813 acres). This includes 0.052 square kilometers (13 acres) of water.

Climate and Weather

Pueblo West is in Southern Colorado and gets nearly 300 sunny days each year. The weather is usually mild and dry. However, some years, called monsoon years, can bring more rain and cooler summer temperatures. The most summer rain recorded was 14.64 inches in 1921. The least was less than an inch during the Dust Bowl in 1939. On average, summer gets just over 5 inches of rain.

Spring temperatures can change a lot during the day. In March, April, and May, highs are usually from the 50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. But sometimes, late spring snowstorms can bring inches of snow quickly. Light snow can even fall into May. Nighttime lows in spring are usually from the 20s to the 40s. Pueblo West is often windy, especially in the spring.

In summer, high temperatures usually start in the 80s-90s Fahrenheit. They can quickly reach 100 degrees or higher. But evenings are cool, with average summer lows in the 50s to 60s. Sometimes, temperatures can even drop into the upper 30s during summer nights.

Fall is often clear and very dry. In September, October, and November, highs start in the 80s and drop to the 50s by November. Depending on the year, the first snowfall can happen in October or even September. Lows during this time go from the 50s down to the upper 20s. These months can also get windier, which can increase warnings about wildfires. Campers and hikers should know that campfires are often not allowed during these months.

The winter months of December, January, and February have average highs in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit. Lows are usually in the 20s. Milder winters mean less snow, with an average of 31 inches of snowfall each year.

Population Changes

The United States Census Bureau first counted Pueblo West as a CDP for the 1990 United States Census. Over the years, the population has grown quite a bit.

Fun and Recreation

Enjoying the outdoors in Pueblo West.

Lake Pueblo State Park is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking there. Other fun places nearby include the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Monarch Mountain, and the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk in Pueblo.

Schools in Pueblo West

Pueblo West has several schools that are part of Pueblo County School District 70. There is also one charter school.

High Schools

• Pueblo West High School

Middle Schools

• Liberty Point International (used to be Pueblo West Middle School)
• Skyview Middle School

Elementary Schools

• Liberty Point International (used to be Pueblo West Elementary School)
• Sierra Vista Elementary
• Desert Sage Elementary School
• Prairie Winds Elementary School
• Cedar Ridge Elementary School

Charter Schools

• Swallows Charter Academy High School (This school teaches students from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.)

Getting Around Pueblo West

Public Transportation

Pueblo West is part of Colorado's Bustang network. This is a bus service that connects different parts of the state. Pueblo West is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.

Main Roads

• Interstate 25 (I-25) / U.S. Route 85 (US 85)
• U.S. Route 50 (US 50)

See also

In Spanish: Pueblo West (Colorado) para niños