The public library in Durango, the seat of La Plata County in southern Colorado. The town was organized in September 1881 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) to serve the San Juan mining district. The city is named after Durango, Mexico, which was named after Durango, Spain. The word Durango originates from the Basque word "urango" meaning "water town." Durango, on the rushing Animas River, qualifies. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2015.