Located in Southeast Colorado, in the lower Arkansas River Valley at the junction of three major U.S. highways - 50, 287, and 385, - Lamar, a city with continued expansion aspirations, remains awash in ruralism befitting its Cow Country heritage. Tourists traveling these highways enroute to the winter ski resorts or summer spas of the high Colorado Rockies or coming to Lamar for the hunting seasons, will drive through or fly over colorful ranching and farming country. They'll see a variety of cattle grazing on buffalo grass, sorghum stubble or winter wheat depending on the season. As their uninterrupted vision scans the treeless hills and plains to the north and south, they're apt to see herds of pronghorn antelope or deer. Some 33 miles south, they'll pass the area's most famous landmark, Two Buttes Mountain. These same highways bring not only tourists but an entire industry - trucking - through Lamar.
Lamar was spawned on the south banks of the Arkansas when an organizing land company headed by Colonel A.S. Johnson of the Santa Fe Railroad, sold city lots at auction. The town company pitched a large "headquarters" tent on the town site awaiting the arrival of an excursion train from Garden City, Kansas, some 100 miles to the east. The 10 a.m. arrival of the train brought a crowd of "boomers and investors," and when the auction closed at 5 p.m., over $45,000 in town lots had been sold. The founders named their new town after then Secretary of Interior L.Q.C. (Lucious Quintus Cincinnatus) Lamar.
Several factors figured in the selection of the site. First, obviously, was the fact it was a rail head of facilities for shipping livestock upon which the area's economy was so reliant. The historically famous Santa Fe Trail wended west and southwestward by Lamar enroute to Santa Fe. Two important cattle trails originating in Texas - the National and (Charles) Goodnight - passed near Lamar. The National wound northward along the Colorado-Kansas line into Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and even into Montana. Goodnight bent his trail herds westward from a point south of Lamar.
Since their city's birth, Lamarites have watched their town - elevation 3,615 feet - grow to a prosperous mini-city of 8,000 residents. The city is well known as the regional retail shopping hub of Southeastern Colorado and offers visitors unique shopping opportunities and convenient dining and lodging options. With its big sky, endless vistas and pastoral lands, it is no surprise there is a thriving arts community in this corner of the state. Be sure to check out the galleries and craft shops in the area for some stunning examples of art work created here.
Known for years as the "Goose Hunting Capital of the Nation," Lamar attracts a number of tourists in the form of hunters in its own right. Each summer, thousands visit the Lake Hasty Recreation area below the John Martin Dam operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other lakes in the area also offer fishing, boating, and camping. Lamar also offers other recreational activities with top notch facilities.
Prowers County, of which Lamar is the county seat, came into being in 1889, three years after the City of Lamar was conceived.
The Colorado Welcome Center in Lamar is one of ten state welcome centers in Colorado. The center is located in an historic 1907 Railroad Depot which has twice - daily Amtrak service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Volunteers are available to assist travelers with their plans and answer any questions about Colorado.
Recently, the region has become noted for its development of green energy. South of Lamar in the middle of cattle-ranching country, a forest of wind turbines rearing up 263 feet, catches the eye of travelers. The Colorado Green Wind Power Project is the fifth-largest in the country, spanning 11,840 acres of grassland between Lamar and Springfield.
Lamar is also rich in baseball tradition. The Lamar High School baseball program has won several state championships and coupled with the Lamar Community College, the programs have produced a number of players who are playing in MLB.
With over 50 years of Babe Ruth affiliation and having hosted numerous district, state and regional tournaments, Lamar is very excited to have been chosen as the host for the 2009 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series.
Lamar and Southeast Colorado extends the warmest of welcomes to all players, coaches, umpires, family members, fans, and representatives of the 2009 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series.
