Costilla County, Colorado

Costilla County, Colorado
Location in the state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 1, 1861
Named for	Costilla River
Seat	San Luis
Largest town	San Luis
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,230.44 sq mi (3,187 km²) 1,227.10 sq mi (3,178 km²) 3.34 sq mi (9 km²), 0.27%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	3,663 3/sq mi (1/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.costillacounty-co.gov
Footnotes: Colorado's first permanent settlement

Costilla County is the ninth least populous of the 64 counties in the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 3,663 at U.S. Census 2000.^[1] The county seat is San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado.

History

Costilla County was the first area of Colorado to be settled by European-Americans. Hispanic settlers from Taos, New Mexico, officially established San Luis on April 9, 1851. Costilla County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Territory of Colorado on November 1, 1861. The county was named for the Costilla River. Although San Miguel was originally designated the county seat, the county government was moved to San Luis in 1863.

The county's original boundaries had the county extend over much of south-central Colorado. Much of the northern portion became part of Saguache County in 1866, and the western portions were folded into Hinsdale and Rio Grande counties in 1874. Costilla County arrived at its modern boundaries in 1913 when Alamosa County was created from its northwest portions.^[2]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,230.44 square miles (3,186.8 km²), of which 1,227.10 square miles (3,178.2 km²) (or 99.73%) is land and 3.34 square miles (8.7 km²) (or 0.27%) is water.^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Huerfano County, Colorado - northeast
• Las Animas County, Colorado - east
• Colfax County, New Mexico - southeast
• Taos County, New Mexico - south
• Conejos County, Colorado - west
• Alamosa County, Colorado - northwest

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 3,663 people, 1,503 households, and 1,029 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,202 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.91% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 2.48% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 29.46% from other races, and 5.21% from two or more races. 67.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,503 households out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 28.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,531, and the median income for a family was $25,509. Males had a median income of $22,390 versus $16,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,748. About 21.30% of families and 26.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.40% of those under age 18 and 23.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Costilla County tends to favor the Democratic candidate in Presidential elections. The last Republican to carry the county was Calvin Coolidge in 1924.^[5] In the last five Presidential elections the Democratic candidate has consistently received over 60% of the county's vote and occasionally won over 70% of it.^[6]

It is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+5 and is represented by Republican Scott Tipton. In the Colorado Senate it is in District 5 and is represented by Gail Schwartz. In the Colorado House of Representatives it is in District 62 and is represented by Democrat Edward Vigil.

Cities and towns

• Blanca
• Fort Garland
• San Luis
• Chama

National forest

• San Isabel National Forest

Historic trails and sites

• Fort Garland State History Museum
• Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail

See also

• Colorado census statistical areas
• Colorado counties
• Colorado municipalities
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Costilla County, Colorado

References

1. ^ "Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata)" (CSV). 2006 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-03-22. http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
2. ^ Pages 242-247, Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; and Willard, John H., Colorado Post Offices, 1859-1989: A Comprehensive Listing of Post Offices, Stations, and Branches, Colorado Railroad Museum (May 1990), hardcover, 280 pages, ISBN 978-0918654427
3. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ Geographie Electorale
6. ^ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Colorado)

External links

• Costilla County Government website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society
• San Luis Valley Information Center

Coordinates: 37°17′N 105°26′W / 37.28°N 105.43°W / 37.28; -105.43