Photo: DrunkDriver · CC BY-SA 3.0Where South Fork residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for South Fork, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Fork. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Fork
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in South Fork
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.9%), vs 7.8% across Colorado. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (8%), vs 5.1% across Colorado. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.5%, vs 22.9% across Colorado. In all, South Fork runs above Colorado on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Colorado 16%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in South Fork, and more people treating it
36.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Colorado 27%), but 79.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 69.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from South Fork
The closest emergency room is Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte, 21.6 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
South Fork keeps up with checkups
It beats Colorado on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (78.5% vs 71.4%) and cholesterol checks (91.4% vs 85.2%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Colorado figure falls outside South Fork’s likely range.
Out of every 100 South Fork adults…
South Fork runs above CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
South Fork is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in South Fork as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Fork adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Care in and near South Fork
No hospital or community health center in South Fork itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of South Fork; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
1.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How South Fork adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, South Fork does better than Colorado.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
South Fork and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Fork adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in South Fork
Why doesn’t South Fork have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for South Fork.
What hospital is closest to South Fork?
Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte, 21.6 miles in a straight line from South Fork’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Fork.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.