The largest Community in Delta County, the city of Delta lies at the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers.

Here the cowboys are real, the Indians share the traditions the people are down home friendly and the views are inspiring.

Each September the Council Tree Pow Wow American Indian Cultural Festival is held at Confluence Park. From the first drum beat until the last ceremony, your heart will embrace the dance, colors sounds, and cultural pageantry that is Pow Wow.

Scenic Delta is situated just west of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, where the 2,900-foot gorges carved by the snaking Gunnison River will leave you breathless. This town of 6,400 residents has all the amenities, including several grassy city parks. Keep your eyes peeled: seven buildings downtown act as canvasses for local artists: murals depicting the local economy, history and the natural surroundings. Another town symbol at the entrance to Delta is Ute Council Tree,

an 85-foot cottonwood, once a gathering point for tribal discussions. Today the tree symbolizes the growing connections between Colorado Utes and the Western Slope's other residents.

Housed in an old firehouse, the Delta County Museum recounts the Western Slope's cultural heritage and natural history. The butterfly exhibit contains some of the only-known specimens from now extinct species. Step through time into the Fort Uncompahgre Living History Museum at the entrance to the 265-acre Confluence Park, where authentically garbed interpreters guide visitors through an old fur trading post.

Just outside Delta, dinosaur buffs should make tracks to Dry Mesa Quarry, the site where archeologists first discovered Brachiosaurus and Ultrasaurus bones. This dig-in-process is open to the public.

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Delta is a great place to visit and a wonderful place to live. It is a small, rural agricultural community, but not so small that you have to go out of town to obtain the "necessities of life." Grand Junction is about 42 miles north of Delta on hwy. 50; Montrose lies 21 miles south on Hwy. 50.

The schools in the Delta are part of Delta County Joint School District #50 -- a district which encompasses 15 elementary, middle and high schools, as well as a vocational-technical center.

Four schools can be found in Delta itself: Garnet Mesa Elementary(grades K-5), Lincoln Elementary (grades K-5), Delta Middle (grades 6-8) and Delta High School (grades 9-12. Noteworthy programs offered by the school district include:

• A backpack learning program which provides home learning materials for 3 to 5 year old children. This early childhood program is designed to provide support to the child's first teacher -- the parent.
• An academic program, which offers the option for students to take part one-to three-day courses in subjects if interest to them. Frequently these academies provide an opportunity for students to travel outside the count to visit zoos, museums, historically significant locations, and other sites of interest. Innovative technology labs in the middle and high schools and Discovery Centers in the elementary schools, take students beyond the traditional classroom into a world of integrated, hands-on learning.

The Delta - Montrose Vocational - Technical Center provides a wide range of opportunities for postsecondary academic studies and career preparation; also, for the training and retraining opportunities. Vo-tech students represent all ages, with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Occupational programs include farm/ranch management, ag/industrial mechanics, cosmetology, electric's, criminal justice, business occupations, technical drafting, nursing, EMT and basic skills. Degree programs emphasize job skills and include general education course work. Contact student services at (970) 874-7671 for more information.

Delta County has seen significant movement of both property and residential housing in the last few years. Sales of single-family homes have followed the national trend; higher sales in the 1990's and a moderate slowing of sales in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, both Delta County and the surrounding communities approved several residential housing developments, and this will be adding to the overall housing inventory in the future.

Average rental prices in Delta County (excluding utilities) in 2004 were:

• 1-bedroom apartment  $350 - $400 / month
• 2-bedroom apartment  $400 - $500 / month
• 3-bedroom house            $650 - $775 / month

Source: Delta Area Development

The climate is exceptional with warm summer temperatures in the 90s, accompanied by a cool breeze. Autumn is crowned with beautiful colors that lead into our "Banana Belt" winter.

Our community features an 18-hole golf course, Devil's Thumb Golf Club You will be sure to enjoy the benefits of the Bill Heddles Recreation Center that complements Confluence Park, an outdoor recreation and fitness park. Daytime temperatures are normally in the high 20s to low 40s with the overnight lows rarely below 0. Snow is minimal, and it's usually melted by mid-morning. If you enjoy the snow, Grand Mesa is just a short distance to the north, offering

ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. In the summer, over 200 trout-filled lakes beckon fishermen. Hiking trails, mountain biking and four-wheeling can also be enjoyed atop the Grand Mesa National Forest. The majestic Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is to our east, as well as the West Elk Wilderness area; south is the San Juan Mountain range; and to the west is the Uncompahgre National Forest. Delta is a nice cozy town, with many friendly people. There is good reason why Delta is still the trading center of choice for people...Delta, where a hand shake still has meaning...where a smile is expected and accepted...see you in Delta...Let's shake on it! Back to Top