In 1886, the Cortez town was built to provide housing for the men working on the tunnels and irrigation ditches required to divert water out of the Dolores River and into Montezuma Valley. The town was named for Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. It is a popular stop for tourists, who stay there because of its central location among surrounding attractions, such as Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners.
In 2021, Cortez had a population of 8,776 people. The median household income in this region is $42,271. Cortez's economy employs 3800 people. The largest industries in Cortez are:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (724 employees)
- Retail Trade (481 employees) Construction (391 employees)
The highest paying industries in the town are:
- Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction ($81,667)
- holesale Trade ($74,900)
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting and Mining ($52,969)
Click on one of the category groups below to get the related local businesses.