Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado, USA

Cortez is a city in southwestern Colorado’s Montezuma Valley and the seat of Montezuma County. Its townsite was laid out in 1886 to house workers building a system to bring Dolores River water into the valley. Irrigation supported the surrounding farms and helped the town develop as a center for supplies and trade. Older sandstone commercial buildings along Main and Market streets reflect that early growth. Agriculture, mining, logging and tourism have all shaped the community’s history.