The main industry in Pueblo for most of its history was the Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) Steel Mill on the south side of town. For nearly a century the CF&I was the largest employer in the state of Colorado, and Pueblo is still one of the largest steel-producing cities in the United States, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the "Steel City".

Known as the "Home of Heroes", Pueblo is the hometown of four Medal of Honor recipients (more than any other municipality in the United States) -- William J. Crawford, Carl L. Sitter, Raymond G. Murphy, and Drew D. Dix. President Dwight D. Eisenhower upon presenting Raymond G. "Jerry" Murphy with his medal in 1953 commented, "What is it ... something in the water out there in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!"

A banana belt is any segment of a larger geographic region that enjoys warmer weather conditions than the region as a whole, especially in the wintertime. The Arkansas River Valley in Colorado is often referred to as a banana belt because of the angle of the surrounding mountains, which cause any incoming air to be warm and dry. The area includes the towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Parkdale, Cañon City, and Pueblo.

The annual Chile & Frijoles Festival, held each year in late September, is Colorado's premier harvest celebration. Every year, thousands pay homage to Pueblo's most loved crop, the Pueblo chile! The event features 5 live music stages, arts & crafts, cooking competitions & demonstrations, 200 vendors, and lots of chiles!

The flags in the city's official seal, which fly above the banner "under 5 flags," represent the 5 countries and territories that held dominion over the Pueblo area during the last 2 centuries. Those countries are France, Mexico, Texas, Spain, and of course, the United States of America.

Located on the Arkansas River, Pueblo's Historic Riverwalk plays host to a seasonal farmer's market, Steel City Brew Fest, Movies on the River, and more throughout the year.

In 1921, the city experienced a catastrophic blow that changed the course of its history. Ten miles west of Pueblo a sudden and intense rainfall caused the Arkansas River to flood. Thirty miles north, Fountain Creek flooded as well due to sudden downpours. The two waterways merged in Pueblo, and the result was devastating. Over fifteen hundred people lost their lives in The Great Flood, and the town suffered twenty million dollars' worth of damages.

Pueblo began as a trading post established by trappers. The Fort Pueblo Massacre happened sometime between December 23 and December 25, 1854, when a war party of Utes and Jicarilla Apaches under the leadership of Tierra Blanca killed at least fifteen men and captured two children and one woman. The attack followed the deaths of Chief Chico Velasquez and others who died of smallpox after having been given blankets which the Muache believed had been deliberately contaminated. The trading post was abandoned after the raid, but it became important again between during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859.

Dutch Clark, sometimes known as the "Flying Dutchman," played football at Pueblo's Central High School before playing professionally for the National Football League's Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions from 1931-1938. He was selected as the first-team All-Pro quarterback six times, was the first player to have his jersey (No. 7) retired by the Detroit Lions, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with its inaugural class in 1963.

The area is considered semi-arid desert land, with approximately 12 inches (304.80 mm) of precipitation annually. Snow, however, is more common, with an average of 32 inches (812.80 mm) per year.