Bent County, Colorado

Last updated

Bent County
County
Bent County, CO, Courthouse IMG 5719.JPG
Bent County Courthouse in Las Animas
Map of Colorado highlighting Bent County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°57′N103°05′W / 37.95°N 103.08°W / 37.95; -103.08
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedFebruary 6, 1874
Named for William Bent
Seat Las Animas
Largest cityLas Animas
Area
 • Total
1,541 sq mi (3,990 km2)
 • Land1,513 sq mi (3,920 km2)
 • Water28 sq mi (70 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,650 [1]
 • Density3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website www.bentcounty.net

Bent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,650. [1] The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Las Animas. [2] The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent.

Contents

History

As Colorado experienced population growth following the American Civil War, government had to be closer to the people for commerce and justice to be better served in growing communities. Territorial Bent County was created in February 1870, followed by Greenwood County the following month. The June 1, 1870, Federal Census was several months away and there were plans to apply for statehood. On February 2, 1874, Grand County and Elbert County were formed. On February 6, 1874, Greenwood County was dissolved and divided between Bent and Elbert counties. At the time of this annexation, Bent County included a large portion of southeastern Colorado. In 1889, Bent County acquired its current borders when it was partitioned to create Cheyenne, Lincoln, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,541 square miles (3,990 km2), of which 1,513 square miles (3,920 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (1.8%) is water. [3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

State protected area

Trails and byway

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870 592—
1880 1,654179.4%
1890 1,313−20.6%
1900 3,049132.2%
1910 5,04365.4%
1920 9,70592.4%
1930 9,134−5.9%
1940 9,6535.7%
1950 8,775−9.1%
1960 7,419−15.5%
1970 6,493−12.5%
1980 5,945−8.4%
1990 5,048−15.1%
2000 5,99818.8%
2010 6,4998.4%
2020 5,650−13.1%
2023 (est.)5,681 [4] 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7]
1990-2000 [8] 2010-2020 [1]

At the 2000 census, there were 5,998 people, 2,003 households, and 1,388 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 2,366 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.53% White, 3.65% Black or African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 10.25% from other races, and 3.77% from two or more races. 30.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,003 households 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.20% of households were one person and 12.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 129.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.70 males.

The median household income was $28,125 and the median family income was $34,096. Males had a median income of $22,755 versus $24,261 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,567. About 16.60% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

Census-designated places

Politics

Bent is a strongly Republican county, although it is less so than the counties to its east. The last Democrat to carry Bent County was Bill Clinton in 1996, although Michael Dukakis in 1988 was the last to gain a majority.

United States presidential election results for Bent County, Colorado [9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 1,49668.34%64529.47%482.19%
2020 1,50366.09%73232.19%391.72%
2016 1,18861.65%59030.62%1497.73%
2012 1,07555.36%81541.97%522.68%
2008 1,07756.09%79941.61%442.29%
2004 1,33862.09%78536.43%321.48%
2000 1,09655.83%78339.89%844.28%
1996 91741.70%1,04647.57%23610.73%
1992 75933.63%98543.64%51322.73%
1988 1,03247.62%1,08850.21%472.17%
1984 1,31459.75%85939.06%261.18%
1980 1,20651.76%89438.37%2309.87%
1976 1,15646.61%1,26851.13%562.26%
1972 1,52564.29%78733.18%602.53%
1968 1,22847.47%1,12643.53%2339.01%
1964 93734.76%1,73764.43%220.82%
1960 1,67157.54%1,22842.29%50.17%
1956 1,71857.25%1,28342.75%00.00%
1952 1,95059.40%1,31740.12%160.49%
1948 1,29643.43%1,65855.56%301.01%
1944 1,55651.51%1,45648.20%90.30%
1940 1,89951.67%1,75947.86%170.46%
1936 1,29940.84%1,82157.25%611.92%
1932 1,32739.58%1,94858.10%782.33%
1928 1,95772.13%74127.31%150.55%
1924 1,51154.14%80428.81%47617.05%
1920 1,58460.67%93735.89%903.45%
1916 83334.80%1,47361.53%883.68%
1912 42021.76%73037.82%78040.41%
1908 91550.72%81945.40%703.88%
1904 81263.94%41632.76%423.31%
1900 56950.49%54648.45%121.06%
1896 19724.63%59173.88%121.50%
1892 16240.30%00.00%24059.70%
1888 1,33851.58%1,07441.40%1827.02%
1884 38244.26%44651.68%354.06%
1880 17441.23%24257.35%61.42%

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated places

See also

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Las Animas is the statutory city that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Bent County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,300 at the 2020 United States Census. Las Animas is located on the Arkansas River, just west of its confluence with the Purgatoire River, in southeast Colorado east of Pueblo, near the historic Bent's Fort.

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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. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. 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. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

Notes

    37°57′N103°05′W / 37.95°N 103.08°W / 37.95; -103.08

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