Durango, city in southwestern Colorado, on the banks of the Animas River. The seat of La Plata County, Durango lies about 32 km (about 20 mi) north of the New Mexico border. The city is a tourist, educational, and agricultural center. Fort Lewis College (founded in 1911), a part of the Colorado State University system, is located here. The Animas Museum houses exhibits on local history and archaeology. Durango serves as a gateway to Mesa Verde National Park, the San Juan Mountains, Purgatory Ski Area, San Juan National Forest, and the Southern Ute Reservation, a Native American reserve. Durango was founded by representatives of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway in 1880 to exploit the gold and silver mining boom in the area. With the railroad's arrival in 1881, the community, which also incorporated that year, became the economic center of southwestern Colorado. Durango developed as a mining and smelting center and as a shipping point for agricultural products and natural resources, including precious metals, timber, and fossil fuels. Durango is named after Durango, Mexico, which comes from a Basque word meaning “meeting or watering place.” Population 11,649 (1980); 12,430 (1990); 13,922 (2000).
