Otero County, Colorado
24 public bodies govern here, 6 school districts are based here, and USDA lists 1 farmers market. Everything below says where it came from.
In four numbers
- People
- 18,321
- Median household income
- $54,037
- ±5,856
- Unemployed
- 6.7%
- 547 of 8,128 in the labour force
- Homes with broadband
- 84.8%
- 6,431 of 7,584 households
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020-2024; read 2026-09-26. Percentages worked out here from the two counts shown.
Who governs here
County government 1
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| County of Otero | 18,594 (2021) | 13 West Third St, La Junta | Website |
Cities, towns and villages 6
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of la Junta | 7,298 (2021) | Po Box 489, La Junta | Website |
| City of Rocky Ford | 3,854 (2021) | 203 S Main St, Rocky Ford | Website |
| Town of Cheraw | 236 (2021) | Po Box 16, Cheraw | — |
| Town of Fowler | 1,246 (2021) | 317 S Main St, Fowler | Website |
| Town of Manzanola | 340 (2021) | Po Box 187, Manzanola | — |
| Town of Swink | 602 (2021) | Po Box 267, Swink | — |
Special districts 17
| Name | What it does | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Drainage District | Drainage | 301 Colorado Ave, La Junta | — |
| Holbrook Drainage District | Drainage | 32227 County Rd Jj, La Junta | — |
| Crooked Arroyo Water Conservancy District | Flood control | 13 West 3rd St, La Junta | — |
| North la Junta Water Conservancy District | Flood control | 17 Ash St, La Junta | — |
| La Junta Health Service District | Hospitals | Po Box 969, La Junta | — |
| La Junta Housing Authority | Housing and community development | Po Box 376, La Junta | — |
| Otero County Housing Authority | Housing and community development | 315 E 5th St, La Junta | — |
| Rocky Ford Housing Authority | Housing and community development | Po Box 849, Rocky Ford | — |
| Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District | Irrigation | 801 Swink Ave, Rocky Ford | Website |
| Fowler Rural Fire Protection District | Local fire protection | Po Box 91, Fowler | — |
| La Junta Rural Fire Protection District | Local fire protection | Po Box 1066, La Junta | Website |
| Manzanola Rural Fire Protection District | Local fire protection | Po Box 177, Manzanola | — |
| Rocky Ford Rural Fire Protection District | Local fire protection | Po Box 552, Rocky Ford | — |
| North la Junta Sanitation District | Sewerage | 208 Seeley St, La Junta | — |
| East Otero Conservation District | Soil and water conservation | 200 S 10th St, Rocky Ford | — |
| Olney-Boone Conservation District | Soil and water conservation | 200 S 10th St, Rocky Ford | — |
| West Otero-Timpas Conservation District | Soil and water conservation | 200 South 10th Street, Rock Ford | — |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Government Units List (published August 2023); the file read 2026-09-26. Offices are placed by county; a special district’s territory can cross county lines. Each body posts its own meetings on its website where the Census records one.
School districts based here
Cheraw School District No. 31 in the county of Otero and S
School district1 schools
110 LAKEVIEW AVE., Cheraw, CO, 81030
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
East Otero School District No. R1
School district4 schools
301 RATON AVENUE, La Junta, CO, 81050
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Fowler School District No. R4J
School district3 schools
601 W. GRANT, Fowler, CO, 81039
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Manzanola Joint District No. 3J of the counties of Otero a
School district2 schools
32475 COUNTY ROAD 11.5, Manzanola, CO, 81058
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Rocky Ford School District No. R2
School district2 schools
101 MELONEER DRIVE, Rocky Ford, CO, 81067
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Swink School District No. 33 in the county of Otero and St
School district2 schools
610 COLUMBIA AVENUE, Swink, CO, 81077
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data 2024-25; read 2026-09-26.
Farmers markets
Lusk Farms Farmers Market
Lusk Farms Farmers Market, CO, 26020
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-20. USDA listing
USDA National Farmers Market Directory; read 2026-09-26.