Antonito

Antonito is a small town with a population of just 781. This little town is 85% Hispanic and the median income level here is $25,649, with over 28% of residents living below the poverty level. The median home price here is $75,068 which is considerably lower than the state average of $237,800. This area had been popular since the time of the Ute Indians and the Spanish. It was once home to the Denver and Rio Grande Railroads, and still keeps with that tradition by housing the main station for the longest and highest narrow gauge railroad in the world, the Cumbres and Toltec Railway. This railroad travels from Antonito to Chama, New Mexico. This railroad was originally built in 1880 and purchased by the state to keep the history alive and serve as a type of living museum.

In addition to the railroad, there are numerous other outdoor activities here. This area is known for fishing and there are plenty of places to catch one of Colorado's best tasting fish, the Rainbow Trout. There are also places to rent ATVs to explore the area. Although it's not in Antonito, Our Lady of Guadelupe church is just next door in Conejos which is less than two miles away. This is the oldest church in Colorado and was built in 1857.

For families that have school aged children, the school system is less than stellar as they consistently rate below average on state testing standards. They do have several very good athletic programs though and have sent both wrestlers and dancers to the state finals.