Pagosa Springs has defeated Santa Fe in Outside Magazine’s online contest to decide the “Best Town in America” to advance to the final 16.
New Mexico’s capital city would have seemed a prohibitive favorite, both for its size advantage and the fact that Outside is based in Santa Fe. But Pagosa won a squeaker in the second round, with 10,303 votes (50.22 percent) to Santa Fe’s 10,211 (49.78 percent).
Pagosa Springs will now face Flagstaff, Arizona, in the semifinals of the West bracket. The Southwest Colorado town of 1,727 again seems a bit outgunned by its Arizona neighbor, whose population is 68,667. But Pagosa was able to defeat Santa Fe, whose population (69,976) is nearly identical to Flagstaff’s.
“It sort of all depends on the passion people feel for the places,” Outside assistant editor Chris Cohen said in a phone interview Monday. “We had New York wash out in the first round.”
Middleburg, Vermont, destroyed the Big Apple, 16,615 votes to 6,856.
The 2014 winner in the contest’s inaugural year was Duluth, Minnesota, with a population of 86,128.
Voting totals rise each round the contest goes, Cohen said. He’s heard that social-media chatter has doubled since last week.
“That’s exciting for us to see,” he said.
Outside Magazine’s description of Flagstaff: “This high desert town (7,000 feet) ... is just 80 miles from the Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is a year-round, high-altitude mecca for mountain bikers, campers and hikers.”
Pagosa Springs has Wolf Creek Ski Area and the San Juan National Forest nearby, not to mention its namesake, the hot springs. It also sees plenty of tourists each year, who come to camp, hike, fish, hunt, ski and mountain bike.
Voting continues for five days for each round. The third rounded ended Monday. To vote, visit www.outsideonline.com/1972941/best-towns-2015. The top 16 towns will be featured in Outside’s September issue.
This story was corrected from its original version to note that the next round begins the day after the previous round ends.
johnp@durangoherald.com
