South Fork

South Fork is a small town in Southern Colorado which has a population of only 376. The town gained notoriety in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation as the Griswald family stopped in South Fork to spend the night at a campground there. Although the area is lush with plenty of trees and beautiful, this area has the typical Alpine climate with hot summers that can turn briskly cold after sunset and nights in the winter sporting temps below zero. Not for the faint of heart…

The population is primarily white and many of the residents work in retail or accommodation and food service. This is a popular area for vacationers, resulting in this type of work. Although the income level here is lower than many other areas of the state, you can also purchase a home here for a little less. Many of the homes are spread out and on some acreage, offering a great place to raise horses or other small farm animals. A lot of the residents here have taken the time to build homes that blend into the scenery instead of detract from it, which is neat. Some of the luckier residents live next to the Rio Grande River and have great properties with fishing and incredible views.