Gunnison

Community Description
(See community links below for additional information.)

Gunnison lies in the center of the Colorado’s Rocky Mountains at the bottom of a wide river valley, about midway between Montrose and Salida. It is an outdoor oriented town known for some of the finest recreation in Colorado.

Demographics

• Gunnison is located in Gunnison County.
• The town has a population of 5,409.
• Gunnison County has a population of 13,956.

Economy

• Though Gunnison was originally a ranching and mining town, it now depends greatly on tourism and education.

Education

• The Gunnison Watershed School District serves the area with public education for kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Gunnison is also home to Western State College.

Local Attractions

• Surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest, 78% of the area is federally owned, providing easy access to primitive areas and high mountains.
• Hundreds of miles of trails offer varied hiking, horseback riding and jeeping experiences, allowing a rare opportunity to savor the solitude and silence of the high altitude beauty.
• Miles of streams and rivers not only delight the fishermen, but provide the perfect arena for a thrilling whitewater adventure or a leisurely float trip.
• Blue Mesa, the largest body of water in Colorado, offers water sports of all types; located in Gunnison’s Curecanti National Recreation Area and boasting 96 miles of shoreline, Blue Mesa provides recreation opportunities for boaters, windsurfers, water skiers and fishermen.
• Golfers can challenge themselves on two top rated 18-hole golf courses: Dos Rios and the Club at Crested Butte.
• Meanwhile, backpackers hike to mountaintops to see the breathtaking views, and bicyclists tour the countryside.
• The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park combines depth, narrowness, and sheerness, more so than any other canyon in North America.
• Visitors can explore the enchantment of the canyon, often referred to as a “mini Grand Canyon,” on the scenic rim drives or by taking the Morrow Point Boat Tour.
• There are also many circle tour trips of the area for sight-seeing or ghost town exploration.
• Winter finds the anglers bearing augers for ice fishing, snowmobilers and cross country skiers exploring the majestic mountains, and downhill skiers tackling the terrain.
• Crested Butte Mountain Resort, located 30 miles north, is known for its friendly people and short lift lines.

Climate

• The average annual precipitation in Gunnison is 10.5 inches and the average annual snowfall is 51 inches.
• In January, the average high is 26 degrees and the average low is -7 degrees.
• In July, the average high is 81 degrees and the average low is 42 degrees.

Community Links

HEALTHCARE IN GUNNISON

HOSPITALS
Gunnison Valley Hospital
Locate a Doctor

CLINICS
Gunnison Family Medicine Center
Gunnison Valley Family Physicians

LIFESTYLES IN GUNNISON

DEMOGRAPHICS
http://www.gunnison-co.com/userfiles/fact_sheet_2008.pdf
http://www.city-data.com/city/Gunnison-Colorado.html
           
SCHOOLS
Gunnison Watershed School District RE1J
Western State College
           
EMPLOYERS
Top Five Employers:
Gunnison Watershed School District RE1J
Western State College
Gunnison County
Gunnison Valley Hospital
Atmos Energy
          
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.gunnisonchamber.com
           
TOWN WEBSITE
www.gunnison-co.com

COUNTY
http://www.gunnisoncounty.org/
           
REAL ESTATE – View homes for free before you do a site visit!
Go to Zillow.com to learn about all the homes for sale in Gunnison.

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
Gunnison Country Times

TOURIST AND RECREATION WEBSITES
Attractions
Summer Adventures
Camping
Fishing & Hunting
Water Sports
Golfing
Skiing & Boarding
Winter Adventures
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Gunnison Whitewater Park
Blue Mesa
       
TOWNS NEARBY
Crested Butte (26 miles)
Pitkin (29 miles)
Marble (41 miles)
Lake City (44 miles)
Grand Junction (126 miles)
Denver (201 miles)

AIRPORT
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport
        
SKIING IN COLORADO, FROM GUNNISON
Crested Butte (26 miles)