Alamosa County, Colorado

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Alamosa County
County
Alamosa County Courthouse.JPG
Alamosa County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting Alamosa County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′N105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W / 37.57; -105.78
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedMarch 8, 1913
Named for Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees
Seat Alamosa
Largest cityAlamosa
Area
 • Total723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,376 [1]
 • Density23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 3rd
Website alamosacounty.colorado.gov

Alamosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,376. [1] The county seat is Alamosa. [2] The county name is the Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees.

Contents

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. [3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Other protected areas

Scenic trails

Transportation

Alamosa is served by San Luis Valley Regional Airport. The only commercial service is to Denver.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920 5,148—
1930 8,60267.1%
1940 10,48421.9%
1950 10,5310.4%
1960 10,000−5.0%
1970 11,42214.2%
1980 11,7993.3%
1990 13,61715.4%
2000 14,9669.9%
2010 15,4453.2%
2020 16,3766.0%
2023 (est.)16,655 [4] 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7]
1990-2000 [8] 2010-2020 [1]

At the 2000 census 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 (8.1 people/km2). There were 6,088 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/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. [9] Of the 5,467 households 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 households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $29,447 and the median family income 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). [10] 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). [10]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Alamosa County, Colorado [11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,81348.83%3,75948.14%2363.02%
2016 3,04643.90%3,18945.96%70410.15%
2012 2,70540.28%3,81156.75%1992.96%
2008 2,63541.92%3,52156.01%1302.07%
2004 3,17950.63%3,01748.05%831.32%
2000 2,85750.49%2,45543.38%3476.13%
1996 2,03841.23%2,33047.14%57511.63%
1992 1,57234.05%1,92841.76%1,11724.19%
1988 2,56753.70%2,14644.90%671.40%
1984 2,95362.68%1,72036.51%380.81%
1980 2,60153.87%1,82137.72%4068.41%
1976 2,59953.51%2,05242.25%2064.24%
1972 2,91662.51%1,54033.01%2094.48%
1968 2,27755.00%1,57438.02%2896.98%
1964 1,48837.42%2,48162.40%70.18%
1960 2,27155.58%1,81144.32%40.10%
1956 2,44262.33%1,46537.39%110.28%
1952 2,72862.13%1,62637.03%370.84%
1948 1,95044.58%2,39554.76%290.66%
1944 1,93351.56%1,80648.17%100.27%
1940 2,24347.39%2,46752.12%230.49%
1936 1,18829.71%2,75468.87%571.43%
1932 1,30636.96%2,14160.58%872.46%
1928 1,75958.23%1,23941.01%230.76%
1924 1,00940.59%62525.14%85234.27%
1920 1,08151.87%94945.54%542.59%
1916 48826.15%1,30870.10%703.75%

Alamosa County is a competitive swing county, voting for the winning presidential candidate in every election since its formation except 1944, 1960, 1976, 2016, and 2020.

Communities

City

Town

Census Designated Place

Unincorporated communities

Sheriff's Office

Alamosa County Sheriff's Office
Agency overview
Preceding agency
  • Municipal Police
Employees39
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionAlamosa County, Colorado, U.S.
Population16376
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters1315 17th Street Alamosa, Colorado 81101
Sworn members18
Unsworn members21
Agency executive
Website
http://alamosacounty.colorado.gov/departments/sheriff

The Alamosa County Sheriff's Office is a county law enforcement agency in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. [12] It consists of 18 sworn law enforcement officers and 21 civilian support personnel. [13]

Rank structure

TitleInsignia
Sheriff
US-O9 insignia.svg
Undersheriff
US-O8 insignia.svg
Sergeant
Army-USA-OR-05 (Army greens).svg
Corporal
Army-USA-OR-04a (Army greens).svg
Deputy

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. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 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 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Alamosa County Sheriff's Office in Alamosa, Colorado".
  13. ↑ "Alamosa County Sheriffs Office / Alamosa County Jail - Alamosa, CO (Address, Phone, and Fax)".
  14. ↑ Colorado County Codes

37°34′N105°47′W / 37.57°N 105.78°W / 37.57; -105.78

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