Pueblo, Colorado is a town 112 miles south of Denver at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek. Known primarily as one of the prime steel producers in the country and is often referred to as ‘Steel City’.
Despite the large manufacturing base, housing in Pueblo offers great value. With around 110,000 people spread over almost 55 square miles, space is one thing not in short supply. Rental stock is mainly made up of apartments for local steel workers and other workers in the city. Small family homes are plentiful and are very competitively priced. In fact, Pueblo is known for being one of the cheapest places to live in Colorado.
Pueblo began as Fort Pueblo in 1842 as a trading post to help trade along the Arkansas River and with local Native American tribes. The central plaza provided the ideal space to trade and was the focal point of the area until the notorious Fort Pueblo Massacre took place in 1854. This caused the fort to be abandoned for four or five years.
The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 breathed new life into Pueblo as a trading post once more. As more people settled, farms sprung up, bringing agriculture to the region. It wasn’t long until steel came to town and manufacturing here really took off.
The Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) Steel Mill on the south side of town ran for almost one hundred years until 1982 when it was bought by Oregon Steel Mills. Since then, much of the original manufacturing has moved elsewhere and it only a small percentage of steel goods are still produced here.
Pueblo is also known for a devastating flood in 1921 caused by the rising of the Arkansas River. It was quickly joined by the flooding of Fountain Creek and killed over 1,500 people and almost wiped out the entire city.
Despite this disaster, Pueblo picked itself up, rebuilt and revitalized itself. Steel manufacturing brought work and supporting industries, agriculture offered a little diversity and the city has managed to survive through everything the world has thrown at it. The modern city is modest and hard working but there is a steely determination within locals that enables them to tackle just about anything!