Costilla County, Colorado

Costilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,524.[2] The county seat is San Luis,[3] the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado.

Costilla County
U.S. county
The Costilla County Courthouse in San Luis
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°17′N 105°26′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
SeatSan Luis
Largest townSan Luis
Area
 • Total1,230 sq mi (3,200 km2)
 • Land1,227 sq mi (3,180 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,887[1]
 • Density2.9/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.costillacounty-co.gov
Colorado's first permanent settlement

History

Costilla County was the first area of Colorado to be settled by European-Americans. Hispanic settlers from Taos, New Mexico, officially established San Luis on April 9, 1851.[4] Costilla County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Territory of Colorado on November 1, 1861. The county was named for Costilla Creek. Although San Miguel was originally designated the county seat, the county government was moved to San Luis in 1863.

The county's original boundaries extended over much of south-central Colorado. Much of the northern portion became part of Saguache County in 1866, and the western portions were folded into Hinsdale and Rio Grande counties in 1874. Costilla County arrived at its modern boundaries in 1913 when Alamosa County was created from its northwest portions.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,230 square miles (3,200 km2), of which 1,227 square miles (3,180 km2) is land and 304 square miles (790 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected area

Historic trails and sites

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18701,779—
18802,87961.8%
18903,49121.3%
19004,63232.7%
19105,49818.7%
19205,032−8.5%
19305,77914.8%
19407,53330.4%
19506,067−19.5%
19604,219−30.5%
19703,091−26.7%
19803,071−0.6%
19903,1903.9%
20003,66314.8%
20103,524−3.8%
2019 (est.)3,887[7]10.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[2]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 3,663 people, 1,503 households, and 1,029 families living in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 2,202 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.91% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 2.48% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 29.46% from other races, and 5.21% from two or more races. 67.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,503 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 28.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,531, and the median income for a family was $25,509, the lowest for Colorado. Males had a median income of $22,390 versus $16,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,748. About 21.30% of families and 26.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.40% of those under age 18 and 23.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Costilla County tends to favor the Democratic candidate in Presidential elections. The last Republican to carry the county was Calvin Coolidge in 1924,[13] and the last to gain an absolute majority William Howard Taft in 1912 – an era when most votes in these high valley counties were done for the voters by political machines. In the last eleven Presidential elections the Democratic candidate has consistently received over sixty percent of the county's vote and four times won over seventy percent.

Presidential elections results
Costilla County vote
by party in presidential elections[14]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 31.8% 588 60.9% 1,125 7.3% 135
2012 24.3% 446 73.0% 1,340 2.8% 51
2008 24.5% 415 73.4% 1,245 2.2% 37
2004 32.2% 566 66.5% 1,170 1.4% 24
2000 30.6% 504 64.0% 1,054 5.5% 90
1996 20.3% 333 71.2% 1,168 8.5% 140
1992 20.9% 366 67.3% 1,180 11.8% 207
1988 28.7% 454 70.8% 1,120 0.4% 7
1984 38.1% 621 61.1% 997 0.8% 13
1980 30.9% 489 65.5% 1,036 3.7% 58
1976 27.0% 392 71.1% 1,033 2.0% 29
1972 42.2% 602 52.1% 744 5.7% 82
1968 32.2% 477 63.0% 933 4.9% 72
1964 18.8% 299 80.8% 1,284 0.4% 6
1960 31.8% 637 67.5% 1,351 0.7% 13
1956 42.5% 958 55.7% 1,256 1.8% 40
1952 43.7% 1,070 56.0% 1,369 0.3% 8
1948 36.4% 921 61.7% 1,563 1.9% 48
1944 37.1% 896 62.7% 1,515 0.2% 5
1940 39.4% 1,121 59.7% 1,698 0.9% 26
1936 37.1% 930 60.6% 1,518 2.2% 56
1932 31.9% 707 66.6% 1,475 1.5% 33
1928 37.3% 657 60.8% 1,070 1.9% 33
1924 48.4% 755 42.6% 665 9.0% 141
1920 49.5% 778 47.7% 750 2.7% 43
1916 34.7% 579 61.5% 1,028 3.8% 64
1912 55.1% 1,072 29.1% 567 15.8% 308

In Colorado's first elections as a state in 1876, Auguste Lacome (D) ran against William H. Meyer (R) for State Senate in Costilla County, then Colorado's 18th District. Meyer would later become the Lt. Governor of Colorado. Votes cast for “Locome” and “Lacompte” were included in the count for Lacome. Meyer carried the election 349–204.

It is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+5 and is represented by Republican Lauren Boebert. In the Colorado Senate it is in District 35 and is represented by Larry Crowder. In the Colorado House of Representatives it is in District 62 and is represented by Democrat Donald Valdez.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Couple wants to keep 160-year-old Colorado market in the family" Durango Herald. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
  5. Pages 242-247, Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; and Willard, John H., Colorado Post Offices, 1859-1989: A Comprehensive Listing of Post Offices, Stations, and Branches, Colorado Railroad Museum (May 1990), hardcover, 280 pages, ISBN 978-0-918654-42-7
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Geographie Electorale
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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