The Arkansas River carved a valley through the high plains where Pueblo now stands at 4,692 feet elevation. This city of 111,000 sits in south-central Colorado, roughly 100 miles south of Denver along Interstate 25. Semi-arid climate creates dramatic temperature swings: winter mornings often drop below freezing while afternoons warm to the 40s, and summer days regularly exceed 90°F but cool substantially at night. Steel production historically defined Pueblo, leaving a strong blue-collar character. The surrounding landscape transitions from plains to mountains, with the Wet Mountains visible to the west.
