History and culture - Eastern Plains
Limon is the 'Hub City' because the roads and rails all meet there
Limon earned its 'Hub City' name because Interstate 70 and several U.S. and state highways come together where rail lines once met on the plains.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
Some towns earn a nickname that actually explains the map. Limon is called the “Hub City,” and the reason is simple: this is where the routes come together.
It started with rail. In the late 1800s, rail lines crossed near here, and a junction town grew up around the meeting point. Travel by road later followed the same logic. Today Limon sits where Interstate 70 meets a fan of other routes — U.S. 24, U.S. 40, U.S. 287, and State Highway 71 — spreading out across eastern Colorado, which is why so many drivers pass through, fuel up, and move on.
That position shaped the town’s character. A hub is a place built for movement — for travelers, freight, and the services that keep them going. It is part of why a small plains town has long punched above its size as a stopping point.
Understanding this helps a newcomer read Limon: it is not an accident of the prairie, it is a crossroads. For current highway maps and road conditions, see the Colorado Department of Transportation, and for the town’s railroad story, start with the town of Limon and the Limon Heritage Museum.