Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce

300 Chamber Drive
Cole Park
Alamosa, CO 81101
(719) 589-3681
office@alamosachamber.org

Alamosa Mainstreet 1910: Fred Bunch photo

A town delivered by train
Built on the backbone of the railroad, Alamosa was platted in 1878 by Alexander Cameron Hunt, director of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company and former territorial governor of Colorado. In June of 1878, flatcars delivered lumber and hardware, two hotels and many other buildings from the construction camp and former terminus of the railroad at Garland City. On July 4th, 1878, the first passenger train arrived in Alamosa establishing a vital service that was to flourish and continue until 1951.
The next decade saw the establishment of all manner of retail and the building of the historic brick buildings in the downtown area of Alamosa. As business flourished, Alamosa became a boomtown know as the “Queen City of the San Luis.”

For the upbuilding of commerce and civic interests
The Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1923. This was a time in Alamosa’s history when the growth of this new city would have reached a point where local businesses agreed that banding together and pooling resources for the common good made sense. The Certificate of Incorporation was signed on November 23, 1923. The document was filed in the office of the Secretary of State the following day. The purpose of this important organization was eloquently defined by this historic document:

“KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That we, by Albert L. Moses, Albert F. Morairty and Arthur F. Bethman, all residents of the City of Alamosa in the County of Alamosa in the State of Colorado, and citizens of the United States, being desirous of associating ourselves for the purpose of promoting the development of the San Luis Valley, and particularly that part of the Valley embraced in the exterior boundary lines of the
County of Alamosa, and of developing and maintaining a community spirit in said Valley and County, and particularly the City of Alamosa in said Alamosa County, and of fostering, promoting, developing and upbuilding all of the civic interests of said City of Alamosa, County of Alamosa and San Luis Valley, and not for pecuniary profit, under, by virtue and in pursuance of Chamber 38, Compile Laws of the State of Colorado of 1921, and particularly of Subdivision XII of said Chapter, do hereby, as provided therein, avail ourselves of said provisions, associate ourselves together and, in compliance therewith, we do hereby make, execute and acknowledge this, our certificate in writing, of an intention so to become a body corporate, not for pecuniary profit, and we do state and set forth:
The particular business and object for which our said association is formed shall be to encourage, foster, promote and develop all things tending to the community welfare, and the spiritual and material well-being and upbuilding fo the City of Alamosa, the County of Alamosa and the San Luis Valley, and to do generally those things for which commercial organizations of like character are usually formed and maintained.”

Today, the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce is managed by a Board of Directors and staff dedicated to the original intent of these visionary forefathers. This is evidenced in the current Mission Statement and daily actions of the Board, staff, committees and members.
The Chamber offices are located in the yellow depot on Cole Park in downtown Alamosa.

Mission Statement
The Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce is organized to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the San Luis Valley so that its citizens and all area of its business community will prosper. Promotion and education will be provided with particular attention given to the economic, civic, cultural and educational interests of the area and to opportunities for involvement.