Mosca, Colorado
Mosca, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Mosca and State Highway 17 | |
  Mosca, Colorado Location within the state of Colorado
Location in Alamosa County and the state of Colorado  Mosca, Colorado Mosca, Colorado (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 37°38′52″N 105°52′27″W / 37.64778°N 105.87417°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Alamosa[1] |
| Elevation | 7,559 ft (2,304 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,072 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code[2] | 81146 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0196391 |
Mosca (Spanish for fly) is an unincorporated community and a U.S. Post Office in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. Mosca's population is 1,072 as of the 2020 census.[3] It was named for the nearby Mosca Pass, which was named for the Spanish explorer, Luis de Moscoso Alvarado.[4] The Mosca Post Office has the ZIP Code 81146.[2] It is best known for its proximity to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
Geography[edit]
Mosca is located at 37°38′52″N 105°52′27″W / 37.64778°N 105.87417°W (37.647675,-105.874043). The elevation of Mosca is 7,559 feet (2,304 meters).
Climate[edit]
The climate in this area is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers, and cold to freezing winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mosca has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[5]
Nearby attractions[edit]
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (including the Superintendent's Residence and Indian Grove)
- Colorado Gators Reptile Park
- UFO Watchtower
- Trujillo Homesteads
Power Plants[edit]
- San Luis Valley Solar Ranch
- Hooper Solar PV Power Plant
- Greater Sandhill Solar Plant
- Alamosa Solar Generating Project
- Alamosa Photovoltaic Power Plant
Economy[edit]
Much of the local economy is based on tourism due to the town's proximity with Great Sand Dunes National Park. FairPoint Communications operated the Columbine Telecom Company in the community.[6]
Education[edit]
Mosca is served by the Sangre de Cristo School District Re-22J. It is home to Sangre de Cristo Elementary School and Sangre de Cristo Undivided High School.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Mosca". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. January 2, 2007. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 36.
- ^ Climate Summary for Mosca, Colorado
- ^ "Local Calling Guide: Area code/prefix search. Accessed February 14, 2012". Localcallingguide.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
Municipalities and communities of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |