Bent County, Colorado

Infobox U.S. County
county = Bent County
state = Colorado


founded year = 1874
founded date = February 6
seat wl = Las Animas
largest city wl = Las Animas
area_total_sq_mi = 1541
area_total_km2 = 3991
area_land_sq_mi = 1514
area_land_km2 = 3921
area_water_sq_mi = 27
area_water_km2 = 70
area percentage = 1.77%
census yr = 2000
pop = 5998
density_sq_mi = 4.0
density_km2 = 1.5
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.bentcounty.org
named for = William Bent

Bent County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent. The county population was 5,998 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 = 2007-05-17] The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the City of Las Animas.

History

Bent County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 6, 1874, when Greenwood County, created only four years earlier, was dissolved and divided between Bent and Elbert counties. At the time of its creation, it included a large portion of southeastern Colorado. In 1889, Bent County acquired its current borders when it lost much of its territory to the newly created 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 (3,991 km²), of which, 1,514 square miles (3,921 km²) of it is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) of it (1.77%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Kiowa County, Colorado - north
*Prowers County, Colorado - east
*Baca County, Colorado - southeast
*Las Animas County, Colorado - southwest
*Otero County, Colorado - west

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,998 people, 2,003 households, and 1,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,366 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/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.

There were 2,003 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $28,125, and the median income for a family 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.

Cities and towns

*Las Animas

tate park

*John Martin Reservoir State Park

Trails and byway

*American Discovery Trail
*Santa Fe National Historic Trail
*Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities

References

External links

* [http://www.bentcounty.org Bent County Government website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]