Ouray County, named after nineteenth-century Ute leader Ouray, covers 542 square miles in southwest Colorado. Established in 1877, the current population sits at 4,952 residents (2019). The county seat, the city of Ouray, is situated deep within a canyon at the base of the San Juan Mountains. Ouray is often referred to as the Switzerland of America, due to its rugged topography. Ouray County is also home to the town of Ridgway, the former headquarters of the Rio Grande Southern narrow gauge railroad. Ridgway is set just over 10 miles from the county seat, the city of Ouray, located in a mountain valley.