Two films, Badlands (1973) and Mr. Majestyk (1974), were filmed in and around La Junta, CO.
La Junta is a city in Otero County, Colorado with a population of 7077
Two films, Badlands (1973) and Mr. Majestyk (1974), were filmed in and around La Junta, CO.
La Junta is a city in Otero County, Colorado with a population of 7077. It's located on the beautiful Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado, just east of Pueblo. There's a lot to see and do here for every type of person. You can see the scenic Colorado mountains to the west, where you can take on mountain climbing and skiing, and you're located in the heart of the rolling prairie land of Colorado! There's plenty to do on the plains, from hiking to sightseeing and the city has a municipal golf course for golf lovers! It's only 60 miles east of Pueblo, so it's easy to hop on the highway and enjoy all that Pueblo has to offer.
What to Look For
If you're thinking about finding places to live in La Junta, you're in luck! The area has an above average vacancy rate and over a quarter of the homes here are property rentals instead of owner-occupied units. This means that your apartment search should be easy breezy. Don't get overly confident, though. You'll still want to make sure you leave ample time for your search. If you're looking for studio apartments, those can be harder to find, which is something to keep in mind. The median home cost here is only about 1/3 or the national median, so you might be able to get a bigger rental apartment here for the same price of a studio in other parts of Colorado. This is exciting news for anyone who wants a spare bedroom to keep as an office or home gym, or anyone who has a roommate but just wants to cut down on costs! You can use the money you save to buy a ski pass at one of the nearby resorts in the Colorado mountains! The homes here are almost all single family, so you won't have much luck finding hi rise apartments or giant apartment complexes. But if you've always dreamed of having a pretty little house on a tree-lined street with views of the Rocky Mountains, you may have found your paradise.
What You'll Need
In order to move here, just take some time to think about exactly what kind of apartment you're looking for and what is available. You may find you need to adjust your expectations a little bit in order to secure an apartment within a certain time frame. But make a list of the attributes that are most important to you -- like being near a grocery store, the highway or having a little more privacy, etc. Do you want to live in an older home or a brand new construction? Once you've narrowed down your search, reach out to realtors or landlords and start making appointments to see different places. You'll get a better sense of what is available at the time of your search. When you meet with a prospective landlord, bring along a copy of your ID, bank statements, pay stubs, references, etc. You'll need all of this to pass a background check in order to obtain a lease. Bring your checkbook, too, as you might find a place you love and will want to put a deposit on it right away! Most landlords will require a credit check, too, which can be an additional fee so make sure you plan ahead for this expense, too!
La Junta is a super tiny town. In fact, it only takes up 2.8 square miles on the map! That's not very much space, but you will find that different sections of town have their own individual benefits. Here's a little more info about what you'll find in the different areas of town.
West La Junta: West La Junta stretches out onto I-50, toward Pueblo, and up toward the Arkansas River. It's a great place to look for medium-sized homes with easy access to the highway. You'll also find the beautiful Fairview Cemetery, Potter Park and Felisa's Mexican Food and Lounge in this area.
Central La Junta: The center of the city is where you'll find residential streets on a grid and a really peaceful atmosphere. The gorgeous and relaxing City Park is located on Colorado Avenue, and is a great place to spend a lazy weekend afternoon enjoying the views of the mountains in the background. It's also where you'll find the Koshare Indian Museum and Trading Post, a popular tourist attraction.
Northeast La Junta: The is the area where Adams Ave intersects with I-50, so it's a big commercial hub for the area. Many residents like living around here because it's so convenient to shops and restaurants, and also to the highway. Boss Hogg's Saloon and Restaurant is in this part of town, too, in case you're in the mood to take in a beer.
Life in La Junta has a lot to offer and the city goes out of its way to make sure residents here can enjoy a high quality of life. It's a city of quiet roads -- you won't find yourself stuck in traffic here. This is nice because there is no public transportation system here so you really have to have a car to get around. The beautiful City Park in the center of town is a great place to escape and get some exercise. You can jog around the beautiful trails or hang out by the scenic pond to escape into nature. There are heaps of great restaurants, like El Azteca Mexican and The Railyard, both of which are local favorites. Head to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site to check out a reconstructed fur trading post and learn a little more about the area's history. The Koshare Indian Museum is an old historical structure with a collection of Native American art and artifacts, too. With Pueblo just an hour away, you have different options to take advantage of and also plenty of job opportunities within a short drive!
