El Moro, Colorado

El Moro is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Las Animas County, Colorado, United States. The population of the El Moro CDP was 216 at the United States Census 2020. The Trinidad post office (Zip Code 81082) serves the area.

History
The El Moro post office was established in 1876, and remained in operation until 1933. El Moro is a name derived from Spanish meaning "the Moor". After the company was established in 1892, Colorado Fuel & Iron took over the El Moro operation. During its years of operation, 8,063,076 tons of coal were shipped from El Moro on CF&I's narrow gauge railway, connecting them with the Colorado & Southern line.

Geography
El Moro is in west-central Las Animas County, bordering the northeast side of the city of Trinidad, the county seat. U.S. Route 160 runs along the southeast edge of the CDP, leading southwest 3.5 mi to the center of Trinidad and east 119 mi to Springfield. U.S. Route 350 branches off from US 160 at the eastern edge of El Moro and leads northeast 73 mi to La Junta. The city of Pueblo is 81 mi to the north via Interstate 25, which runs just west of the El Moro CDP. The Purgatoire River runs through the community, flowing northeast toward the Arkansas River.

The El Moro CDP has an area of 28.791 km2, including 0.066 km2 of water.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the El Moro CDP for the United States Census 2010.