Alamosa County, Colorado

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Alamosa County
U.S. county
Alamosa County Courthouse
Alamosa County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting Alamosa County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′N 105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W / 37.57; -105.78
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 8, 1913
Named forSpanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees
SeatAlamosa
Largest cityAlamosa
Area
 • Total723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,376[1]
 • Density23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.alamosacounty.org

Alamosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,376.[1] The county seat is Alamosa.[2] The county name is the Spanish language word for a "grove of cottonwood trees."

History[]

Alamosa County was created by the Colorado legislature on March 8, 1913, out of northwestern Costilla County.

Geography[]

Alamosa County, Colorado

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 723 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties[]

Major Highways[]

National protected area[]

  • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Other protected areas[]

Scenic trails[]

  • Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Transportation[]

Alamosa is served by San Luis Valley Regional Airport. The only commercial service is to Denver.

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19205,148—
19308,60267.1%
194010,48421.9%
195010,5310.4%
196010,000−5.0%
197011,42214.2%
198011,7993.3%
199013,61715.4%
200014,9669.9%
201015,4453.2%
202016,3766.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 14,966 people, 5,467 households, and 3,651 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 6,088 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.19% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 2.34% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 20.34% from other races, and 4.16% from two or more races. 41.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8] Of the 5,467 households 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 27.30% of households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 27.20% under the age of 18, 15.90% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median household income was $29,447 and the median family income was $38,389. Males had a median income of $27,733 versus $22,806 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,037. About 15.60% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Catholics (with 5,716 members) and Evangelical Protestants (with 1,755 members).[9] The largest religious bodies were the Catholic Church (with 5,716 adherents) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with 1,155 adherents).[9]

Politics[]

Presidential election results

Alamosa County is a competitive swing county, voting for the winning Presidential candidate in every election since its formation except 1944, 1960, 1976, 2016, and 2020. In the 2016 election, Donald Trump – who captured several previously solidly Democratic counties in southern Colorado – became the first Republican to win the presidency without carrying the county since it was created before the 1916 election. Trump flipped the county in 2020, the only one in Colorado, and one of only fifteen nationally, which he turned from blue to red that year.[a]

Communities[]

City[]

  • Alamosa

Town[]

Unincorporated communities[]

License plate code[]

Alamosa County has used the following county codes on Colorado license plates issued to passenger vehicles in the county: XE-XG and EAA-ABD.[11]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The other fourteen were Burke County, Georgia; Scotland County, North Carolina; Lorain County, Ohio; Mahoning County, Ohio; Clarendon County, South Carolina; Dillon County, South Carolina; Frio County, Texas; Jim Wells County, Texas; Kenedy County, Texas; Kleberg County, Texas; La Salle County, Texas; Reeves County, Texas; Val Verde County, Texas; and Zapata County, Texas.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  10. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  11. ^ http://www.15q.net/coco.html

External links[]

Coordinates: 37°34′N 105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W / 37.57; -105.78

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