Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista is a town of 3,010 people in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Why visit Buena Vista
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 35 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Bridge over Arkansas River, Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings, J. M. Bonney House and Collegiate Peaks Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 11°F, and about 49 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Buena Vista
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Buena Vista
Buena Vista is a statutory town located in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,855 at the 2020 United States census.
From the Wikipedia article Buena Vista, Colorado (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Bridge over Arkansas River
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic bridge in Johnson Village, Colorado, United States
Museums and landmarks5
Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic building in Buena Vista, Colorado, United States
J. M. Bonney House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Colorado, United States
Maxwell Park School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
One-room school in Chaffee County, Colorado
Jacobs Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Nachtrieb-Kelly Ranch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
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Restaurants and cafes35
Dragon Sushi Bar & Latinos Restaurant
Restaurant · Latin American, Sushi · 1.2 mi
710 US Highway 24 North, Buena Vista
Mo 11:00-21:00; Tu off; We-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Joyful Bakery & Coffee
Cafe · 1.4 mi
801-1B Front Loop Drive, Buena Vista
Su-We 07:00-17:00; Th-Sa 07:00-17:00
The Long Table
Cafe · 1.0 mi
302 East Main Street, Buena Vista
Mo-Th 08:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 08:00-17:00
Mountain Oasis Bar & Grill
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
215 US Highway 24, Buena Vista
23 more on the map.
History
The Arkansas River Valley and the area of what would become Buena Vista was first settled in 1864 by settlers drawn to the area by the plentiful water which made the land suitable for agriculture. The Buena Vista, Colorado, post office opened on September 18, 1879.
In 1888, Chaffee County voters moved the county seat from Granite to Buena Vista. Voters subsequently moved the county seat to Salida, which then had a larger population, in 1928.
Buena Vista incorporated in 1879 and grew as a railroad town serving the local silver, gold, and lead mining industry, with three rail lines including Denver & Rio Grande, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado Midland railroads. Many of the existing buildings of Buena Vista date back to this era, and were built in the 1880s and 1890s.
By 1894, Buena Vista had electricity, telephone service, street lights, parks, cemeteries, and schools. Travelers, speculators, and miners traveling up the Arkansas Valley towards Leadville made Buena Vista a popular stagecoach stop, and railroad depot following the 1890s. While certainly experiencing economic ups and downs, the valley's agricultural economy has made the area more resistant to the 'boom, bust' cycle of mining towns.
From the History section of Buena Vista, Colorado on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship3
Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
118 South Gunnison Avenue, Buena Vista
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.2 mi
611 Arizona Street, Buena Vista
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries7
The Grove Bvsd'S Early Learning Program
School · 1.2 mi
516 East Main Street, Buena Vista
Healthcare2
Map of Buena Vista
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 11°F | 0.3 in | 6.2 in |
| Feb | 43°F | 14°F | 0.4 in | 7.4 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 21°F | 0.6 in | 8.2 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 27°F | 1.0 in | 8.1 in |
| May | 66°F | 36°F | 1.2 in | 3.2 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 43°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 49°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 47°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 40°F | 0.9 in | 0.4 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 29°F | 0.8 in | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 20°F | 0.4 in | 5.1 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 11°F | 0.4 in | 7.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Buena Vista 2S (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Chaffee County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-28: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-05: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Coastal Storm)
- 2003-04-09: Snow (Snowstorm)
- 2002-06-19: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Harriet Alexander Field (SLT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Twin Lakes 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
- Salida 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Poncha Springs 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Fairplay 28 mi north, about 46 min by car
- Leadville 30 mi north, about 48 min by car
- Leadville North 31 mi north, about 50 min by car
- Alma 32 mi north, about 51 min by car
- Howard 33 mi southeast, about 53 min by car
- Blue River 43 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Aspen 45 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Buena Vista, Colorado, Town Hall, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grace Episcopal Church (Colorado), Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- J.M. Bonney House, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bridge over Arkansas River (Johnson Village, Colorado), Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Maxwell Park School, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
- Jacobs Building, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Nachtrieb-Kelly Ranch, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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