Why Townsend Avenue Is the Backbone of Montrose, Colorado

Montrose, Colorado, was incorporated in 1882 as a staging area for the established mining camps of the San Juan Mountains. Today, this small to mid-sized Western Slope town is known as a gateway to big outdoor fun.

Coloradans who travel through Montrose to visit Curecanti or Blue Mesa, or to travel on to Ridgway or Ouray, must all travel down the longest street in town. Do you know which street it is?

The Longest Street In Montrose, Colorado

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And the winner is....Townsend Avenue. Townsend stretches from North of the airport to the South end of the city, where it becomes U.S. 550 (the Million Dollar Highway). At over five miles in length, it’s the longest and busiest street in town.

Travelers know Townsend as the road to Ridgway and Ouray, but locals know it as the road we take to the grocery store, the bank, or even the auto shop. Townsend is a natural commercial workhorse for the community.

Things You'll See Along Townsend Avenue In Montrose

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A trip down Townsend takes you past a little bit of everything. Historic downtown Montrose can be found near Townsend and Main Street, featuring shops, several coffeehouses, and one of the two local City Markets. As you travel South on Townsend, the roadway widens into a big-box corridor of eateries, hotels, a Target, and a Walmart. Somehow, people are supposed to notice all of this despite the wide-open views of the San Juan Mountains as the backdrop.

Townsend Avenue History

Townsend Avenue has been a part of the city since the original town plat in 1882. Surveyors began their classic grid pattern anchored by Main Street running east-west and Townsend going north-south.

The street is named for T.B. Townsend (businessman and county commissioner). The T.B. Townsend homestead can still be found at 222 S. 5th St. Over the years, Townsend grew from a dirt road into a paved state highway. The growth along this main artery mirrors the progress of Montrose itself.

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