The Town of Blanca was founded in August 1908 after a land lottery in the San Luis Valley of south central Colorado. It was incorporated in 1909.
In the early years of the 20th century, the Town grew to a reported population of about 1500 and was home to 3 hotels, 2 banks, 6 real estate businesses, and (on and off) 3 different newspapers.
While the railroad contributed to the founding of the Town, agriculture and ranching were the main industries which caused the boom.
Demographics and Other Information
The population of Blanca, according to the 2010 census was 387. Blanca was the fastest growing community in the Valley between 1990 and 2000 with a growth rate of 48.3%. Some population has been lost between 2000 and 2010
Blanca has a large hispanic population. Approximately 67% of the total residents claim Hispanic ancestry. There are 150 families who live within the Town limits.
Blanca is located in northern Costilla County in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado. It is at an elevation of 7746 feet (about 1 1/2 miles) above sea level. The topography is mostly high desert prairie with surrounding mountains.
Blanca experiences mild summers, cold winters and windy springs.
The average high temperature in January is 34.2° F (1.2° C) and the average low temperature is 1.5° F (-16.9° C). In July the average high temperature is 65° F (18.3° C) and the average low temperature is 42.8° F (6°C).
The record high temperature is 91° F (32.7° C). and the record low temperature is -50° F (-46.7° C). The average number of days above 90° F (32.2°C) per year is 1.3. The average number of days with temperatures below 32° F ( 0° C.) per year is 227.1. The average number of days on which temperatures fall below 0°F (-17°C) per year is 43.6.
Blanca averages over 290 sunny days per year.
The average precipitation is about 8.8 inches, although the surrounding mountains may get up to 300 inches of snow each year.
Mt. Blanca
Mt. Blanca is the fourth highest mountain in Colorado. Only 88 feet separate it from the highest one. The center peak, although it looks lower from this angle, is Blanca Peak, 14,345 feet. On the left is another fourteener (A mountain that is 14,000 feet or more high.), Little Bear Peak at 14,037 feet. The peak on the right is Hamilton Peak, a thirteener at 13,658.
In what is sometime called the Blanca Massiff, there are 4 peaks over 14,000 feet. Along with Blanca Peak and Little Bear, the two not show in this picture are Ellingwood Point (14,042 feet) and Mt. Lindsey (locally know as Baldy) (14,042 feet). Another thirteener, Twin Peaks at 13,580 feet, is just to the west of Ellingwood Point.
Mt. Blanca has been sacred to Native American tribes in the West for centuries. It was often the site of their vision quests.