Otero County’s population was 18,831 in 2010. The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, a La Junta town founder. La Junta is the county seat, located in southeastern Colorado on the Arkansas River. Bent’s Old Fort, a vital trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, is northeast of La Junta.
Comanche National Grassland is found in Otero County, offering 440,000 acres of petroglyphs, dinosaur footprints, abandoned homesteads, abundant wildlife, and the Santa Fe Trail.
Visit the Otero County Government website.
County Towns
Adjacent Counties
- Bent – east
- Crowley – north
- Kiowa – northeast
- Las Animas – south
- Pueblo – west
Latest in Otero County
Ghost towns along the old Santa Fe Trail in Southeast Colorado
One of Colorado’s more ghostly scenes can be found along U.S. 350, between La Junta and…
Ghost towns along the old Santa Fe Trail in Southeast ColoradoRead More
Camping near La Junta and Lamar, around Comanche National Grassland
Located an hour apart on US-50, La Junta and Lamar both make a fantastic basecamp for…
Camping near La Junta and Lamar, around Comanche National GrasslandRead More
5 Best Hotels in La Junta, Colorado
Get some amazing sunset and sunrise views in the quaint town of La Junta. Although it’s…
Dino Tracks, Rock Art & Historic Ruins at Picketwire Canyonlands
If you have had the opportunity to visit the Picketwire Canyonlands, at least once, you would…
Dino Tracks, Rock Art & Historic Ruins at Picketwire CanyonlandsRead More
