Info on southern Colorado areas for possible move (Denver, Colorado Springs: rental, house)

[AZforester]

Well I guess I'm another person looking for info on the area since getting a job offer there. I'm from AZ and I've never been to CO even though it's pretty close by. OK, I have read a lot of posts about different areas and am going thru the post on the index of CO threads. Basically I could relocate anywhere on the east side of the divide with this job as I will be on the road most of the time. Looking(so far) to be west of 25. I plan to make a trip up there to check out some different places and looking at the map, there are so many small towns that I don't want to overlook some place interesting. I'll just tell you in general what I'm looking for and what I don't want.
From what I've read so far, Salida and Canon City are on the list to check out. Not interested in the Denver area or Colorado Springs. Too many people. Nor am I interested in a place that would be characterized as a resort, liberal, or with a high influx of Californians or northeasterners. Had enough of that in Flagstaff, no offense to anyone personally just not what I'm looking for. Prefer a place the people are actually from there or at least the area. Don't want to have to truck in water either, so having access to a well or city water would be a concern. I'm used to the weather in southern AZ and would prefer somewhere that didn't get a lot of snowfall since I'll be on the road everyday. That's based on my experience here with spotty snow plowing, may be different in CO. Yeah I realize it snows there.
Would like to find a place with a population of 50,000 or less, don't think that should be a problem. Will have a job already so the economy isn't really a factor although I'm not looking for somewhere that is a dead zone. A little night life is always welcome. Would prefer a more fire resistant area rather than being in the middle of the forest like I am now, so places with few trees are ok. I have class III toys and like to open carry, so someplace people aren't shocked by that would be a plus. Access to nearby public land for shooting, camping, off-roading, etc is preferred. I'm spoiled having thousands of acres of playground 10 mins from the house here. Available housing, or at least finding a rental to start with is definitely a concern. I've heard traffic on 25 thru Denver can be bad, so somewhere that might have access to alternate routes for year round north-south travel would be great. Travel time not really important as I make my own schedule.
I know this is pretty general, but I'm looking for places I might need to check out that would be somewhat close to what I'm looking for. I realize there is no perfect place, but if I could find somwhere similar to where I am now that would help me decide whether or not to take the job. I'm having a tough time thinking about leaving where I live now, but the better job offer has me looking for reasons to move there. Thanks in advance for any suggestions on places to look into or even avoid.

[jazzlover]

Nor am I interested in a place that would be characterized as a resort, liberal, or with a high influx of Californians or northeasterners.

My emphasis added with bold.

You can scratch about 2/3's of Colorado west of I-25 off of your list with that statement right there--especially the California part. About the only place I can think of that isn't being flooded with that is the San Luis Valley, which has both a climate and economy that many outsiders would consider "unfriendly," and some areas down around Walsenburg and Trinidad.

As to towns you mentioned specifically, Salida used to be a nice town, but is getting increasingly high-priced and out-of-state yuppified. Canon City is better in that regard, but is still getting its own influx, and is only 45 miles from a major metro area (Colorado Springs). It's a nice town, but not a utopia.

A lot of disgruntled native Coloradans would like to find what you are looking for. Guess what?--a lot of them are leaving the state to try to find it. That should tell you something.

[2bindenver]

Fountain.

[CosmicWizard]

Since you are not dependent upon the local economy for your income, you might consider the San Luis Valley that Jazzlover mentioned. If you enjoy the wide open spaces and small population centers, it would be a magnificent setting for you with the Sangro De Cristo range to the east and the San Juan range to the west. The average elevation ( 7500 ) is 500 ft higher than Flagstaff ( 7000 ) and it is also further north than Flagstaff. That should give you a very general idea of how severe the climate would be.

[janetjanetbobanet]

Canon City, Walsenburg, Trinidad are possibilities. I live in Fountain now, which was mentioned by another poster. It does have a little more of a smaller city feel, but is pretty close to Colorado Springs. Haven't been here for a snowfall yet.