Rio Grande County, Colorado

Rio Grande County, Colorado
County
Carnegie Library (Monte Vista, Colorado)
Carnegie Library (Monte Vista, Colorado)
Map of Colorado highlighting Rio Grande County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Coordinates: 37°37′N 106°23′W / 37.61°N 106.39°W / 37.61; -106.39
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 10, 1874
Named afterRio Grande
SeatDel Norte
Largest cityMonte Vista
Area
 • Total
912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Land912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)  0.04%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,539
 • Estimate 
(2024)
11,132 Decrease
 • Density12.7/sq mi (4.89/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.riograndecounty.org

Rio Grande County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,539.[1] The county seat is Del Norte.[2] The county is named for the Rio Grande (Spanish language for "Big River"), which flows through the county.

Description

The gateway to the San Juan Mountains, Rio Grande County is one of the highlights of the San Luis Valley. The county covers 913 square miles (2,360 km2) ranging from approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m) on valley floor to several 13,000-foot (4,000 m) peaks. There are three municipalities within the county, Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork and all have been historically developed along the rail line that follows the Rio Grande.

Monte Vista is the county's largest community situated on the valley floor. "Monte", as locals call it,[citation needed] is the center of the agricultural aspect of the county. There are numerous festivals, events, and clubs that take place in and around Monte Vista, and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a stop for migratory Sand Hill Cranes every year. Del Norte is a quaint town with a focus on its historic past; it is the county seat, home to the Rio Grande County Museum, and maintains a historic façade in its main street.

The newest town in Rio Grande County is South Fork. South Fork is surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest and other public lands and has easy access to Wolf Creek Ski Area. Developed as a logging center it has become a gem of the Valley with a booming housing market, world-class 18-hole golf course, and the distinction of being the "Gateway to the Silver Thread" scenic byway.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 912 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.04%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,944—
18903,45177.5%
19004,08018.2%
19106,56360.9%
19207,85519.7%
19309,95326.7%
194012,40424.6%
195012,8323.5%
196011,160−13.0%
197010,494−6.0%
198010,5110.2%
199010,7702.5%
200012,41315.3%
201011,982−3.5%
202011,539−3.7%
2024 (est.)11,132[4] Decrease−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,539. Of the residents, 22.4% were under the age of 18 and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[9][10][11]

Rio Grande County, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[12] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 7,022 6,600 6,261 56.57% 55.08% 54.26%
Black or African American alone (NH) 12 25 51 0.10% 0.21% 0.44%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 78 104 137 0.63% 0.87% 1.19%
Asian alone (NH) 25 40 36 0.20% 0.33% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 2 4 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 12 16 56 0.10% 0.13% 0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 92 109 385 0.74% 0.91% 3.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,172 5,086 4,609 41.67% 42.45% 39.94%
Total 12,413 11,982 11,539 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The racial makeup of the county was 70.1% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 2.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.5% from some other race, and 14.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 39.9% of the population.[11]

There were 4,789 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 6,527 housing units, of which 26.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.8% were owner-occupied and 31.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.9%.[10]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 12,413 people, 4,701 households, and 3,417 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 6,003 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.93% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 21.45% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. 41.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15] Of the 4,701 households 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 24.10% of households were one person and 10.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 28.10% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median household income was $31,836 and the median family income was $36,809. Males had a median income of $30,432 versus $23,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,650. About 11.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Rio Grande County is a Republican stronghold, having not supported a Democrat for president since 1964.

United States presidential election results for Rio Grande County, Colorado[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1880 298 60.08% 198 39.92% 0 0.00%
1884 448 59.50% 289 38.38% 16 2.12%
1888 454 61.52% 261 35.37% 23 3.12%
1892 539 48.82% 0 0.00% 565 51.18%
1896 176 10.81% 1,428 87.71% 24 1.47%
1900 752 39.43% 1,118 58.63% 37 1.94%
1904 1,417 64.97% 690 31.64% 74 3.39%
1908 1,122 48.51% 1,139 49.24% 52 2.25%
1912 698 24.98% 1,286 46.03% 810 28.99%
1916 886 32.61% 1,756 64.63% 75 2.76%
1920 1,660 61.01% 985 36.20% 76 2.79%
1924 1,572 53.51% 922 31.38% 444 15.11%
1928 2,254 64.03% 1,226 34.83% 40 1.14%
1932 1,557 36.57% 2,539 59.63% 162 3.80%
1936 1,884 41.64% 2,574 56.90% 66 1.46%
1940 3,075 57.40% 2,242 41.85% 40 0.75%
1944 2,567 65.82% 1,325 33.97% 8 0.21%
1948 2,049 52.86% 1,814 46.80% 13 0.34%
1952 3,201 70.11% 1,350 29.57% 15 0.33%
1956 2,816 66.04% 1,441 33.79% 7 0.16%
1960 2,524 58.53% 1,782 41.33% 6 0.14%
1964 1,699 43.94% 2,161 55.88% 7 0.18%
1968 2,442 58.32% 1,562 37.31% 183 4.37%
1972 2,787 69.69% 1,029 25.73% 183 4.58%
1976 2,627 62.37% 1,475 35.02% 110 2.61%
1980 2,844 63.37% 1,370 30.53% 274 6.11%
1984 3,122 73.25% 1,104 25.90% 36 0.84%
1988 2,626 62.01% 1,545 36.48% 64 1.51%
1992 1,927 42.51% 1,541 34.00% 1,065 23.49%
1996 2,129 49.50% 1,720 39.99% 452 10.51%
2000 3,111 61.30% 1,707 33.64% 257 5.06%
2004 3,448 62.40% 2,006 36.30% 72 1.30%
2008 2,930 53.82% 2,448 44.97% 66 1.21%
2012 2,918 52.74% 2,478 44.79% 137 2.48%
2016 3,085 55.75% 2,001 36.16% 448 8.10%
2020 3,660 58.05% 2,495 39.57% 150 2.38%
2024 3,743 60.43% 2,306 37.23% 145 2.34%

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  10. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  11. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  12. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Rio Grande County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  13. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rio Grande County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rio Grande County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_County,_Colorado