Nucla

Nucla is home to 710 residents, of which over 92% are white. This quiet little town lies just west of the Uncompahgre National Forest and is very close to Hanging Flume, a remnant of Colorado's gold rush. This flume was a man made track that was suspended above the Dolores River in the canyon and was used to deliver almost 8 million gallons of water a day to use for the hydraulic gold mining of the time. Although it hasn't been used in over a century, you can still see parts of it hanging from the canyon. Along with the canyon, there is a distinct feel to Nucla of the desert, or an almost Arizona type of feel to it. The red rock canyons can almost transport you back in time.

The main industries in Nucla are utilities, retail trade, and construction. The median household income here is $48,268 while the median home price is $122,405, giving Nucla a really good cost of living.

There isn't much in Nucla in the way of amenities and residents need to travel elsewhere for shopping, dining, and medical services. Montrose is just south of Nucla by about 30 miles and is the closest city to Nucla.

Nucla supposedly was named because it acted as a nucleus or center for the surrounding towns and farms, but ironically the name also suits it because of the uranium mines in the area.

Located in a desert land surrounded by the Uncompahgre National Forest, the area has indian lore and pre-historic caves. The Tabeguache Cave and Cottonwood Cave are rock shelters or overhangs and the nearby Tabeguache Pueblo is an ancient pueblo inhabited around 1100 AD.

The Hopkins Montrose County Airport is south of town and if you are a pilot makes a really convenient way to get in and out of the remote area where Nucla is tucked away. The great thing about Nucla is that no one really knows it exists, or at least Front Range people. Nuclu is off the highway, off even the remote isolated highways 141 and 90 that skirt around it to the south. The town and valley are farmed and have water on this plateau area surrounded by brown dry desert mountainous land there is this green oasis of farms and fields. There is a high school and middle school combination and a couple elementary schools in this town of less than 1000 souls. To the north of town there are a lot of roads with properties fishing up onto higher ground above town. This is an interesting place where outdoor enthusiasts and desert/mountain lovers will find a haven. Homes in town can be found for $150,000, or 80 acre agricultural desert land with a standard home for $350,000. It is not especially cheap nor expensive.