Montrose

Montrose sits in the Uncompahgre River valley in western Colorado and serves as the administrative center of the county sharing its name. The town spreads across flat terrain at roughly 1,760 meters (5,770 feet) elevation, surrounded by high plains and the slopes of the San Juan Mountains to the south.

The arrival of the railroad in 1882 transformed the area into a hub for moving goods between mining camps and farming regions. The construction of a long tunnel in the early 20th century brought water to the valley and made large-scale agriculture possible.

The Manufacturing Technology Center in Montrose provides specialized training programs for industrial skills development, supporting the local manufacturing sector.

The regional airport offers connections to Denver and sits west of downtown. The visitor center in the city center provides travelers with maps and information about the surrounding area.

A water tunnel over six kilometers long cuts through Black Canyon and has carried river water to the fields around town for more than a century. The structure stands as one of the first major irrigation projects in western Colorado.

Location: Montrose County

Inception: 1882

Website: https://cityofmontrose.org

GPS coordinates: 38.47690,-107.86600

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:41