Alamosa County, Colorado
Alamosa County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 37°34′N 105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado |
Founded | March 8, 1913 |
Named for | Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees |
Seat | Alamosa |
Largest city | Alamosa |
Area | |
• Total | 723 sq mi (1,870 km2) |
• Land | 723 sq mi (1,870 km2) |
• Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.1% |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 15,445[1] |
• Density | 21/sq mi (8/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Website | www |
Alamosa County is one of the 64 counties of 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
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
- Saguache County, Colorado - north
- Huerfano County, Colorado - east
- Costilla County, Colorado - southeast
- Conejos County, Colorado - southwest
- Rio Grande County, Colorado - west
National protected area
Other protected areas
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
- Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
- Rio Grande National Forest
- San Luis State Park
- Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Scenic trails
Transportation
Alamosa is served by San Luis Valley Regional Airport. The only commercial service is to Denver.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 5,148 | — | |
1930 | 8,602 | 67.1% | |
1940 | 10,484 | 21.9% | |
1950 | 10,531 | 0.4% | |
1960 | 10,000 | −5.0% | |
1970 | 11,422 | 14.2% | |
1980 | 11,799 | 3.3% | |
1990 | 13,617 | 15.4% | |
2000 | 14,966 | 9.9% | |
2010 | 15,445 | 3.2% | |
2019 (est.) | 16,233 | [5] | 5.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[2] |
As of the census[10] of 2000, 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.
There were 5,467 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $29,447, and the median income for a family 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
Year | Republican | Democratic | Others |
---|---|---|---|
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 and 2016. In that last election, Donald Trump – despite capturing 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.
Communities
City
Town
Unincorporated communities
- Alamosa East (a census-designated place)
- Mosca
- Waverly
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
- Outline of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado counties
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Alamosa County, Colorado
References
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ a b "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.
- ^ http://www.15q.net/coco.html
External links
- Alamosa County Government website
- Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
- Colorado Historical Society