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Alamosa County, Colorado

Coordinates: 37°34′N 105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W / 37.57; -105.78
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Alamosa 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
 • Total
723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
15,445[1]
 • Density21/sq mi (8/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 2010 census, the population was 15,445.[2] The county seat is Alamosa.[3] 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.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected area

Other protected areas

Scenic trails

Transportation

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

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
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%
2019 (est.)16,233[5]5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[2]

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.[10] 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).[11] 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).[11]

Politics

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 48.8% 3,813 48.1% 3,759 3.0% 236
2016 43.9% 3,046 46.0% 3,189 10.2% 704
2012 40.3% 2,705 56.8% 3,811 3.0% 199
2008 41.9% 2,635 56.0% 3,521 2.1% 130
2004 50.6% 3,179 48.1% 3,017 1.3% 83
2000 50.5% 2,857 43.4% 2,455 6.1% 347
1996 41.2% 2,038 47.1% 2,330 11.6% 575
1992 34.1% 1,572 41.8% 1,928 24.2% 1,117
1988 53.7% 2,567 44.9% 2,146 1.4% 67
1984 62.7% 2,953 36.5% 1,720 0.8% 38
1980 53.9% 2,601 37.7% 1,821 8.4% 406
1976 53.5% 2,599 42.3% 2,052 4.3% 206
1972 62.5% 2,916 33.0% 1,540 4.5% 209
1968 55.0% 2,277 38.0% 1,574 7.0% 289
1964 37.4% 1,488 62.4% 2,481 0.2% 7
1960 55.6% 2,271 44.3% 1,811 0.1% 4
1956 62.3% 2,442 37.4% 1,465 0.3% 11
1952 62.1% 2,728 37.0% 1,626 0.8% 37
1948 44.6% 1,950 54.8% 2,395 0.7% 29
1944 51.6% 1,933 48.2% 1,806 0.3% 10
1940 47.4% 2,243 52.1% 2,467 0.5% 23
1936 29.7% 1,188 68.9% 2,754 1.4% 57
1932 37.0% 1,306 60.6% 2,141 2.5% 87
1928 58.2% 1,759 41.0% 1,239 0.8% 23
1924 40.6% 1,009 25.1% 625 34.3% 852
1920 51.9% 1,081 45.5% 949 2.6% 54
1916 26.2% 488 70.1% 1,308 3.8% 70

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.

Communities

City

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.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. ^ a b "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.
  13. ^ http://www.15q.net/coco.html

Template:Western U.S. majority-minority counties

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