Business View Civil & Municipal | July 2022

37 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 MONTEZUMA COUNTY , COLORADO “We have a vibrant culture and a vibrant heritage that is steeped in history,” Thurman says. “We have the Ancestral Puebloans archealogy at Mesa Verde, and we have western culture, too, with farming and ranching and mining nearby. In addition, we also have a beautiful scenic landscape as well.” A gem of Colorado, Montezuma County is part of the “Four Corners” region – bordered by Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. It is home to national parks and monuments, including Mesa Verde, as well as Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Yucca House National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument. Adventurers can camp in the San Juan National Forest, Mancos State Park, go fishing in the county’s many water sources, and take hikes along the Sand Canyon Trail or the Dolores River Canyon Trail. There’s skiing and winter sports nearby and special events and festivals running throughout the spring, summer, and fall. “We are equal distance to Denver, Salt Lake, Phoenix, Vegas, and we are even closer to Albuquerque. We’re also right in the middle of mountains,” says Shak Powers, former Montezuma County Manager. “We are a year- round playground remotely located in the middle of everywhere.” Montezuma County’s population sits around 27,000, made up of residents living in the City of Cortez (the county seat), as well as the towns of Dolores and Mancos, and smaller areas of Lewis, Towaoc, Arriola, Pleasant View, and Yellow Jacket. The population has remained steady over the years, but with thriving industries and a plethora of changes and improvements coming their way, the county is poised to see growth in the future. “I think if we secure better broadband and different types of industries, we definitely have the opportunity to grow more,” Thurman says. “Especially with the rural workforce being able to work from home.”