Rio Blanco County, Colorado

Infobox U.S. County
county = Rio Blanco County
state = Colorado


founded year = 1889
founded date = March 25
seat wl = Meeker
largest city wl = Meeker
area_total_sq_mi = 3223
area_total_km2 = 8347
area_land_sq_mi = 3221
area_land_km2 = 8342
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 5
area percentage = 0.06%
census yr = 2000
pop = 5986
density_sq_mi = 2
density_km2 = 1
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.co.rio-blanco.co.us
named for = White River

Rio Blanco County is the sixth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 5,986 at U.S. Census 2000.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv | title = Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata) | format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2007-03-22 | accessdate = 2007-05-16] The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it. The county seat is Meeker.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,223 square miles (8,347 km²), of which, 3,221 square miles (8,342 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Moffat County, Colorado - north
* Routt County, Colorado - northeast, east
* Garfield County, Colorado - south
* Uintah County, Utah - west

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,986 people, 2,306 households, and 1,646 families residing 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.

There were 2,306 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $37,711, and the median income for a family 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.

Cities and towns

*Meeker
*Rangely

National forests and wilderness

*Routt National Forest
*White River National Forest
*Flat Tops Wilderness

cenic byways

*Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
*Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities

References

External links

* [http://www.co.rio-blanco.co.us Rio Blanco County Government website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]