South-Central Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South-Central Colorado
South-Central Colorado Location in Colorado
Country	United States
State	Colorado

South-Central Colorado is a special part of the U.S. state of Colorado. It stretches across the middle-southern area of the state. You can imagine its borders roughly from Chaffee County in the northwest to El Paso County in the northeast. In the southeast, it reaches Las Animas County, and in the southwest, it touches Conejos County.

Many interesting towns and cities are found here. Some of the most well-known include Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Cripple Creek, and Cañon City. Other towns like Salida, Buena Vista, Monte Vista, Alamosa, Walsenburg, and Trinidad are also important parts of this region.

Long ago, explorers like Zebulon Pike and Kit Carson helped people in the Western world learn about the beautiful landscapes of South-Central Colorado. Later, many settlers arrived, with some traveling along the famous Santa Fe Trail. The rivers here, like the Arkansas River and South Platte River, have fast-moving sections perfect for whitewater rafting. These rivers are also famous for trout and bass fishing, especially in amazing places like Royal Gorge.

The local economy, or how people make a living, mostly depends on a few key activities. These include mining, forestry (working with forests), ranching (raising animals), and tourism. Many visitors come to enjoy activities related to these industries. South-Central Colorado has not become heavily developed like some big cities. This means visitors can still experience what the American Old West might have felt like.

Counties in South-Central Colorado

This region is made up of several counties. Each county helps manage the local area. Here are the counties that are part of South-Central Colorado:

• Alamosa County
• Chaffee County
• Conejos County
• Costilla County
• Custer County
• El Paso County
• Fremont County
• Huerfano County
• Las Animas County
• Park County
• Pueblo County
• Rio Grande County
• Saguache County
• Teller County

Learning Opportunities in South-Central Colorado

South-Central Colorado is home to two of Colorado's largest metropolitan areas: Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Because of this, there are many places where students can go to college or get special training.

Community and Technical Colleges

These colleges offer programs that can help you learn a specific skill or prepare for a four-year university.

• IntelliTec College (located in Colorado Springs and Pueblo)
• Pikes Peak State College (in Colorado Springs)
• Pueblo Community College (found in Pueblo and Cañon City)
• Trinidad State College (in Trinidad)

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

These schools offer bachelor's degrees and sometimes even higher degrees.

• Adams State University (in Alamosa)
• Colorado College (in Colorado Springs)
• Colorado State University-Pueblo (in Pueblo)
• Colorado Technical University (in Colorado Springs)
• United States Air Force Academy (located at USAF Academy)
• University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (in Colorado Springs)