Alamosa County, Colorado

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


founded year = 1913
founded date = March 8
seat wl = Alamosa
largest city wl = Alamosa
area_total_sq_mi = 724
area_total_km2 = 1874
area_land_sq_mi = 723
area_land_km2 = 1872
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 2
area percentage = 0.11%
census yr = 2000
pop = 14966
density_sq_mi = 20.7
density_km2 = 8.0
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.alamosacounty.org
named for = Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees

Alamosa County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county name is the Spanish language word for a "grove of cottonwood trees." The county population was 14,966 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 is the City of Alamosa.

History

Alamosa County was created by the Colorado legislature on March 8, 1913 out of northeastern Costilla County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724 square miles (1,874 km²), of which, 723 square miles (1,872 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2 km²) of it (0.11%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

*Saguache County, Colorado - north
*Huerfano County, Colorado - east
*Costilla County, Colorado - east
*Conejos County, Colorado - southwest
*Rio Grande County, Colorado - west

Demographics

USCensusPop
1920=5148
1930=8602
1940=10484
1950=10531
1960=10000
1970=11422
1980=11799
1990=13617
2000=14966
estimate=15282
estyear=2005
estref=" [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990] ." "United States Census Bureau." Retrieved on July 6, 2008.]
footnote=Source: County Populations For Colorado" [http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/pop_state.cfm&Selected_State=CO] ." "Office of Business Development." Retrieved on July 6, 2008.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,966 people, 5,467 households, and 3,651 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 6,088 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/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.

There were 5,467 households out of which 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 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 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $29,447, and the median income for a family 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.

Cities and towns

*Alamosa
*Alamosa East
*Hooper
*Mosca

National park

*Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Other protected areas

*Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
*Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
*Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
*Rio Grande National Forest
*San Luis State Park
*Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

cenic byway and historic trail

*Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway
*Old Spanish National Historic Trail

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. [http://www.15q.net/coco.html]

Transportation

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

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities

References

External links

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