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.
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′53″N 105°52′30″W / 37.64806°N 105.87500°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 | 196391[1] |
Climate
editThe 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
editPower Plants
editEconomy
editMuch 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
editMosca 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 c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mosca, Colorado
- ^ 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.