The City of Monte Vista is the home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 4,247 at the 2020 Census.

History

Monte Vista was laid out in 1884. The site had previously served as a watering stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Monte Vista is the Spanish translation of "mountain view."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which, 1.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (2.56%) is water.

Demographics

Culture

Monte Vista is served by the Carnegie Public Library. Every March, nearly 20,000 Sandhill Cranes descend on the San Luis Valley before continuing their northward spring migration.

Climate

Monte Vista has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).