La Plata County, Colorado

La Plata County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,334.[1] The county seat is Durango.[2] The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" means "the silver" in Spanish.

Not to be confused with La Plata.
La Plata County
U.S. county
Strater Hotel, opened in 1888 during a mining boom in Durango.
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°17′N 107°51′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 10, 1874
Named forSpanish for "the silver"
SeatDurango
Largest cityDurango
Area
 • Total1,700 sq mi (4,000 km2)
 • Land1,692 sq mi (4,380 km2)
 • Water7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total51,334
 • Density30/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiteco.laplata.co.us

La Plata County comprises the Durango, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.[3][4]

The county is home to Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site, the type site for the Basketmaker II period of Anasazi culture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,700 square miles (4,400 km2), of which 1,692 square miles (4,380 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,110—
18905,509396.3%
19007,01627.4%
191010,81254.1%
192011,2183.8%
193012,97515.7%
194015,49419.4%
195014,880−4.0%
196019,22529.2%
197019,199−0.1%
198027,42442.8%
199032,28417.7%
200043,94136.1%
201051,33416.8%
2019 (est.)56,221[6]9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 43,941 people in the county, organized into 17,342 households and 10,890 families. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 20,765 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.31% White, 5.78% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.90% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 10.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,342 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.20% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,159, and the median income for a family was $50,446. Males had a median income of $32,486 versus $24,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,534. 11.70% of the population and 6.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.30% of those under the age of 18 and 7.70% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns
  • Greysill Mines
  • La Plata
  • Parrott City[12]

Politics

In its early years La Plata County generally leaned towards the Democratic Party. Only Benjamin Harrison in 1888, and the three landslide victories of Theodore Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and Herbert Hoover saw the county vote Republican before World War II. In the period between 1940 and 1988, however, the county – like Colorado generally – took a turn towards supporting the Republican Party, with the result that between 1940 and 2000 the only Democrat to obtain a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Since John Kerry became the first candidate in sixteen years from either party to gain a majority in La Plata county in the 2004 election, the county has tended towards the Democratic Party: Barack Obama’s 2008 share of the vote was the highest for a Democrat since Woodrow Wilson's 92 years prior.

Presidential elections results
La Plata County vote
by party in presidential elections[13]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 39.9% 14,233 57.6% 20,548 2.5% 886
2016 40.4% 12,587 49.8% 15,525 9.8% 3,038
2012 43.7% 12,794 52.9% 15,489 3.5% 1,025
2008 41.1% 11,503 57.4% 16,057 1.5% 419
2004 45.9% 11,704 52.6% 13,409 1.6% 400
2000 48.8% 9,993 38.4% 7,864 12.9% 2,633
1996 46.5% 8,057 37.6% 6,509 15.9% 2,755
1992 35.4% 5,522 37.9% 5,913 26.8% 4,178
1988 57.7% 7,714 40.7% 5,443 1.5% 205
1984 67.5% 8,719 31.3% 4,040 1.2% 159
1980 59.8% 7,291 24.9% 3,034 15.4% 1,876
1976 59.1% 6,228 36.4% 3,843 4.5% 476
1972 62.2% 5,691 31.0% 2,830 6.8% 623
1968 57.1% 4,269 33.8% 2,523 9.2% 684
1964 44.3% 3,550 55.5% 4,442 0.2% 15
1960 58.8% 4,772 41.0% 3,329 0.1% 10
1956 66.8% 4,770 33.1% 2,366 0.1% 4
1952 66.0% 4,425 33.0% 2,210 1.0% 66
1948 51.0% 2,735 47.3% 2,536 1.7% 89
1944 59.6% 3,023 40.1% 2,031 0.3% 15
1940 57.4% 3,871 42.0% 2,835 0.6% 39
1936 42.2% 2,354 54.5% 3,040 3.3% 185
1932 38.5% 2,124 57.2% 3,156 4.3% 237
1928 59.6% 2,837 39.3% 1,872 1.1% 53
1924 35.1% 1,469 36.3% 1,516 28.6% 1,197
1920 50.9% 1,711 42.9% 1,445 6.2% 209
1916 27.1% 1,029 68.1% 2,590 4.8% 182
1912 19.4% 692 49.9% 1,775 30.7% 1,093

Recreation

National forest and wilderness

National historic district

Trails

Bicycle route

Scenic byway

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  4. See the Colorado census statistical areas.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Parrott
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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