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Office: Custer County OEM – (719) 783-2344 | custercountyco.gov
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Westcliffe school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: South-central Colorado Wet Mountain Valley county; Westcliffe is county seat; wildfire risk (surrounding forests); avalanche risk (Sangre de Cristo Mountains – some of Colorado’s most rugged and remote peaks); flooding (Grape Creek, Texas Creek); very rural; Custer County is known for its extraordinary views of the Sangre de Cristo Range; off-grid living community is significant here
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Custer County Roads – (719) 783-2344
Transit: None; completely auto-dependent; very rural
Notes: SR-96 (west over Hardscrabble Pass to Pueblo); SR-69 (through the Wet Mountain Valley – north to Walsenburg; south to Blanca/San Luis Valley); very remote; Pueblo is about 60 miles via SR-96 over a mountain pass; Colorado Springs is about 80 miles; one of Colorado’s more isolated communities; the Wet Mountain Valley is stunning – flanked by the Sangre de Cristo Range on the east and the Wet Mountains on the west
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Custer County Planning – (719) 783-2344
Services: Basic county permits; Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, and rural properties
Notes: Limited development; off-grid homesteading is significant (Custer County has a notable population of off-grid residents and alternative lifestyle communities); vacation properties and rural residential; very limited commercial development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Custer County Veterans Services – (719) 783-2344
VA Medical: VA Pueblo CBOC; VA Colorado Springs; both 60-80 miles
Notes: Remote county; VA access requires travel to Pueblo or Colorado Springs
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Custer County Public Library – (719) 783-9138
Address: Westcliffe
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Wet Mountain Valley and Sangre de Cristo heritage
Notes: Single library serving a small remote community; important internet access point given limited rural broadband; the Wet Mountain Valley’s arts community (Westcliffe has a significant presence of artists attracted by the views and rural character) is reflected in library programming; Dark Sky designation (Westcliffe-Silver Cliff – one of Colorado’s few International Dark Sky Communities) is a local point of pride
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Sangre de Cristo Wilderness (Custer County’s western boundary – some of Colorado’s most rugged and remote 14ers – Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Kit Carson Mountain, Humboldt Peak; these peaks are among the most technically challenging 14ers in Colorado; extraordinary alpine scenery); San Isabel National Forest; Deweese Reservoir (state wildlife area – waterfowl and trout); Wet Mountain Valley (extraordinarily beautiful high mountain valley at 7,900 ft elevation flanked by the Sangre de Cristo Range on the east; views of 14,000-foot peaks are spectacular; the valley is often called one of Colorado’s finest scenic valleys); Westcliffe and Silver Cliff (twin towns with an arts community; Westcliffe Summer Music Festival – classical music in a spectacular mountain setting; International Dark Sky Community designation – exceptional star gazing)
Notes: Custer County is one of Colorado’s most scenic but least-visited counties; the Wet Mountain Valley’s combination of 14,000-foot peaks, high mountain meadows, and the International Dark Sky designation creates an extraordinary setting; the Westcliffe Summer Music Festival brings classical music performances to this remote valley in a setting of stunning natural beauty; the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness contains some of Colorado’s most technically challenging 14ers – the Crestones are considered among the most difficult and dangerous 14ers in the state; the dark sky designation means the Milky Way is clearly visible on clear nights throughout the valley
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Custer County GIS – custercountyco.gov; San Isabel NF maps; Sangre de Cristo Wilderness maps; Dark Sky monitoring maps
Notes: Limited county GIS; USFS San Isabel NF maintains the primary maps for wilderness and national forest areas; Sangre de Cristo Range topographic mapping through USGS
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Custer County Animal Shelter – (719) 783-2344 (limited)
Notes: Rural ranching county; cattle, horses management; elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears in the mountains; Sangre de Cristo Wilderness wildlife management through Colorado Parks and Wildlife; the valley’s dark sky designation benefits nocturnal wildlife as well as star gazers
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Custer County – transfer station; off-grid waste management challenges
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; Wet Mountain Water Conservancy; USFS (San Isabel NF); Sangre de Cristo Wilderness; Grape Creek watershed; off-grid waste management (a significant issue for the county’s off-grid communities which must manage their own water and waste systems without municipal infrastructure)
Notes: Custer County’s off-grid community creates unique environmental management challenges – self-built water systems, septic systems, and waste management on rural parcels require county oversight; the Dark Sky designation requires light pollution management (dark sky-friendly lighting ordinances); the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness ecosystem management focuses on maintaining the remote character and protecting rare high-altitude ecosystems; Grape Creek watershed provides water for the valley and its management balances agricultural and ecological needs; the Wet Mountain Valley’s limited development and sparse population means relatively light overall environmental management demands
About Custer County County
Custer County is Colorado’s dark sky capital and Wet Mountain Valley ranching county – the first International Dark Sky Community in Colorado and the spectacular Sangre de Cristo mountain backdrop define a remote, scenically stunning community where Westcliffe serves a small population of ranchers, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts in one of Colorado’s most visually dramatic valleys.
Westcliffe (the county seat, population ~560) is Custer County’s governmental hub in the Wet Mountain Valley, a small Colorado mountain community whose dark sky designation and Sangre de Cristo views anchor its growing reputation as an outdoor recreation and stargazing destination.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Custer County Assessor at 205 S. 6th Street, Westcliffe, CO 81252, phone 719-783-2441. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Custer County District Court at 205 S. 6th Street, Westcliffe, CO 81252, phone 719-783-2274, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
205 S. 6th St., Westcliffe, CO 81252
(719) 783-2441
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Custer County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Southeastern Colorado Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1407, Pueblo, CO 81002 – also covers Custer County as one of 11 SE Colorado counties.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Custer Combined Court – District Court (Probate Division) 205 S. 6th Street, P.O. Box 60, Westcliffe, CO 81252 (719) 783-2274 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Custer County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Westcliffe, CO 81252
(719) 783-2270
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
205 S. 6th St., Westcliffe, CO 81252
(719) 783-2441
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(719) 783-2441
Human Services
(719) 783-2441
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Mountain Valley Developmental Services / Custer County Public Health (limited local services)
Services: Very basic public health; immunizations; vital records
Hospital: Sangre de Cristo Community Health (Westcliffe – clinic); Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center (Walsenburg, Huerfano County – about 40 miles south)
Notes: Very limited local healthcare; hospital care in Pueblo or Colorado Springs; off-grid community creates unique healthcare outreach challenges; rural behavioral health; significant elderly and retiree population in the Wet Mountain Valley
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Westcliffe
Population: 5,000
Area: 739 sq mi
Established: 1877
Public Records
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