Rio Blanco County, Colorado

Rio Blanco County
Rio Blanco County
U.S. county
	Entering the county from the south on State Highway 13.
	Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
	Colorado's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 39°59′N 108°12′W / 39.98°N 108.2°W
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	March 25, 1889
Named for	White River
Seat	Meeker
Largest town	Meeker
Area
• Total	3,223 sq mi (8,350 km2)
• Land	3,221 sq mi (8,340 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (5 km2) 0.06%%
Population
• Estimate (2020)	6,529
• Density	2.0/sq mi (0.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.rbc.us

Rio Blanco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,529.^[1] The county seat is Meeker.^[2] The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it.

History[]

Rio Blanco County was created on March 25, 1889, when it was split from Garfield County. The town of Meeker became the county seat.^[3]

On May 17, 1973, Rio Blanco County became one of two counties in Colorado to have a peaceful nuclear explosion as a part of Operation Plowshare. There were three nearly simultaneous explosions targeted at fracking oil, all detonated as Project Rio Blanco.^[4] The other county is Garfield County under Project Rulison.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,223 square miles (8,350 km²), of which 3,221 square miles (8,340 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.06%) is water.^[5]

Adjacent counties[]

Moffat County - north
Routt County - northeast
Garfield County - south
Uintah County, Utah - west

Major Highways[]

National protected areas[]

Routt National Forest
White River National Forest
Flat Tops Wilderness

Scenic byways[]

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway

State parks and wildlife areas[]

Colorow Mountain State Wildlife Area

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	1,200	—
1900	1,690	40.8%
1910	2,332	38.0%
1920	3,135	34.4%
1930	2,980	−4.9%
1940	2,943	−1.2%
1950	4,719	60.3%
1960	5,150	9.1%
1970	4,842	−6.0%
1980	6,255	29.2%
1990	5,972	−4.5%
2000	5,986	0.2%
2010	6,666	11.4%
2020	6,529	−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790-1960^[7] 1900-1990^[8] 1990-2000^[9] 2010-2020^[1]

At the 2000 census there were 5,986 people, 2,306 households, and 1,646 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,855 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.01% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 4.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[10] Of the 2,306 households 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.

The median household income was $37,711 and the median family income was $44,425. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $19,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,344. About 6.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics[]

Rio Blanco is an overwhelmingly Republican county in Presidential elections. It was along with Clark County, Idaho and Kane County, Utah one of only three counties west of the Continental Divide to vote for Alf Landon over Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. In that election Rio Blanco was Landon's strongest county in the eleven western states, marginally shading normal Republican “banner county” Kane. Since that time only two Democrats – Harry S. Truman in 1948 and Lyndon Johnson who narrowly carried the county in 1964 – have obtained over forty percent of the county's vote. In fact, since 1968 only one Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and him only very marginally, has topped thirty percent of Rio Blanco County's ballots.

show

Presidential elections results

In other statewide elections, Rio Blanco County also leans Republican, although it was carried by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990^[12] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.^[13] Rio Blanco County was also carried by Democratic Senatorial candidate “Nighthorse” Campbell in 1992,^[14] although since then no Democratic candidate for this office has surpassed thirty percent since.

Communities[]

Towns[]

Meeker (county seat)
Rangely

Unincorporated communities[]

Angora
Buford
Rio Blanco
White River City

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Rio Blanco County, Colorado Genealogy Guide". Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. July 5, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
^ "Rio Blanco, Colorado, Site". Energy.gov. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado

External links[]

Coordinates: 39°59′N 108°12′W / 39.98°N 108.20°W / 39.98; -108.20

[2020Census-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.

[GR6-2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

[3] "Rio Blanco County, Colorado Genealogy Guide". Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. July 5, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2021.

[4] "Rio Blanco, Colorado, Site". Energy.gov. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.

[GR1-5] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

[6] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[7] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[8] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[9] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[GR8-10] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.

[11] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

[12] Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado

[13] Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado

[14] Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado

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Year	Republican	Democratic	Others
2020	82.9% 3,061	15.2% 561	1.9% 69
2016	80.9% 2,791	12.6% 436	6.5% 223
2012	80.9% 2,724	16.9% 568	2.3% 77
2008	77.4% 2,437	20.8% 655	1.8% 55
2004	80.0% 2,403	18.9% 566	1.1% 34
2000	76.5% 2,185	19.0% 543	4.5% 127
1996	62.5% 1,697	26.9% 731	10.6% 287
1992	43.2% 1,231	27.3% 778	29.5% 841
1988	68.4% 1,821	30.2% 803	1.4% 38
1984	80.8% 2,131	18.4% 484	0.8% 22
1980	74.5% 1,971	17.5% 462	8.1% 214
1976	67.2% 1,439	29.3% 627	3.5% 74
1972	77.3% 1,586	20.2% 414	2.6% 53
1968	64.6% 1,294	25.1% 502	10.3% 207
1964	47.2% 1,015	52.7% 1,134	0.1% 3
1960	63.6% 1,391	36.3% 794	0.1% 3
1956	71.5% 1,593	28.5% 635	0.0% 1
1952	71.4% 1,612	28.1% 633	0.5% 12
1948	56.0% 981	43.0% 752	1.0% 18
1944	65.9% 881	33.7% 451	0.4% 5
1940	65.5% 1,021	34.0% 530	0.5% 8
1936	55.8% 830	39.5% 587	4.8% 71
1932	44.5% 687	53.5% 826	2.1% 32
1928	65.5% 860	32.7% 429	1.8% 24
1924	60.8% 766	32.3% 407	6.8% 86
1920	62.2% 793	35.7% 455	2.0% 26
1916	39.5% 468	59.2% 702	1.4% 16
1912	33.2% 372	48.1% 538	18.7% 209

show v t Municipalities and communities of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States
County seat: Meeker
Towns	Meeker Rangely
Unincorporated communities	Angora Buford White River City
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