Rio Blanco County, Colorado

Rio Blanco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,666.[1] The county seat is Meeker.[2] The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it.

Rio Blanco County
U.S. county
Entering the county from the south on State Highway 13.
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°59′N 108°12′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 25, 1889
Named forWhite River
SeatMeeker
Largest townMeeker
Area
 • Total3,223 sq mi (8,350 km2)
 • Land3,221 sq mi (8,340 km2)
 • Water1.9 sq mi (5 km2)  0.06%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,324
 • Density2.1/sq mi (0.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.rbc.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,223 square miles (8,350 km2), of which 3,221 square miles (8,340 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.06%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected areas

Scenic byways

State parks and wildlife areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18901,200—
19001,69040.8%
19102,33238.0%
19203,13534.4%
19302,980−4.9%
19402,943−1.2%
19504,71960.3%
19605,1509.1%
19704,842−6.0%
19806,25529.2%
19905,972−4.5%
20005,9860.2%
20106,66611.4%
2019 (est.)6,324[4]−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1]

At the 2000 census there were 5,986 people, 2,306 households, and 1,646 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 2,855 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.01% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 4.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9] Of the 2,306 households 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.

The median household income was $37,711 and the median family income was $44,425. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $19,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,344. About 6.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Rio Blanco is an overwhelmingly Republican county in Presidential elections. It was along with Clark County, Idaho and Kane County, Utah one of only three counties west of the Continental Divide to vote for Alf Landon over Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. In that election Rio Blanco was Landon's strongest county in the eleven western states, marginally shading normal Republican “banner county” Kane. Since that time only two Democrats – Harry S. Truman in 1948 and Lyndon Johnson who narrowly carried the county in 1964 – have obtained over forty percent of the county's vote. In fact, since 1968 only one Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and him only very marginally, has topped thirty percent of Rio Blanco County's ballots.

Presidential elections results
Rio Blanco County vote
by party in presidential elections[10]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 82.9% 3,061 15.2% 561 1.9% 69
2016 80.9% 2,791 12.6% 436 6.5% 223
2012 80.9% 2,724 16.9% 568 2.3% 77
2008 77.4% 2,437 20.8% 655 1.8% 55
2004 80.0% 2,403 18.9% 566 1.1% 34
2000 76.5% 2,185 19.0% 543 4.5% 127
1996 62.5% 1,697 26.9% 731 10.6% 287
1992 43.2% 1,231 27.3% 778 29.5% 841
1988 68.4% 1,821 30.2% 803 1.4% 38
1984 80.8% 2,131 18.4% 484 0.8% 22
1980 74.5% 1,971 17.5% 462 8.1% 214
1976 67.2% 1,439 29.3% 627 3.5% 74
1972 77.3% 1,586 20.2% 414 2.6% 53
1968 64.6% 1,294 25.1% 502 10.3% 207
1964 47.2% 1,015 52.7% 1,134 0.1% 3
1960 63.6% 1,391 36.3% 794 0.1% 3
1956 71.5% 1,593 28.5% 635 0.0% 1
1952 71.4% 1,612 28.1% 633 0.5% 12
1948 56.0% 981 43.0% 752 1.0% 18
1944 65.9% 881 33.7% 451 0.4% 5
1940 65.5% 1,021 34.0% 530 0.5% 8
1936 55.8% 830 39.5% 587 4.8% 71
1932 44.5% 687 53.5% 826 2.1% 32
1928 65.5% 860 32.7% 429 1.8% 24
1924 60.8% 766 32.3% 407 6.8% 86
1920 62.2% 793 35.7% 455 2.0% 26
1916 39.5% 468 59.2% 702 1.4% 16
1912 33.2% 372 48.1% 538 18.7% 209

In other statewide elections, Rio Blanco County also leans Republican, although it was carried by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990[11] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[12] Rio Blanco County was also carried by Democratic Senatorial candidate “Nighthorse” Campbell in 1992,[13] although since then no Democratic candidate for this office has passed thirty percent either.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  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. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  11. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  12. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado

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