Rio Grande County, Colorado

Rio Grande County
Rio Grande County
County
	Carnegie Library (Monte Vista, Colorado)
	Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
	Colorado's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°37′N 106°23′W / 37.61°N 106.39°W
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	February 10, 1874
Named for	Rio Grande
Seat	Del Norte
Largest city	Monte Vista
Area
• Total	912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
• Land	912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2) 0.04%
Population (2020)
• Total	11,539
• Density	13/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.riograndecounty.org

Rio Grande County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,539.^[1] The county seat is Del Norte.^[2] The county is named for the Rio Grande (Spanish language for "Big River"), which flows through the county.

Description

The gateway to the San Juan Mountains, Rio Grande County is one of the highlights of the San Luis Valley. The county covers 913 square miles (2,360 km²) ranging from approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m) on valley floor to several 13,000-foot (4,000 m) peaks. There are three municipalities within the county, Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork and all have been historically developed along the rail line that follows the Rio Grande.

Monte Vista is the county's largest community situated on the valley floor. "Monte", as locals call it,^{[citation needed]} is the center of the agricultural aspect of the county. There are numerous festivals, events, and clubs that take place in and around Monte Vista, and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a stop for migratory Sand Hill Cranes every year. Del Norte is a quaint town with a focus on its historic past; it is the county seat, home to the Rio Grande County Museum, and maintains a historic façade in its main street.

The newest town in Rio Grande County is South Fork. South Fork is surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest and other public lands and has easy access to Wolf Creek Ski Area. Developed as a logging center it has become a gem of the Valley with a booming housing market, world-class 18-hole golf course, and the distinction of being the "Gateway to the Silver Thread" scenic byway.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 912 square miles (2,360 km²), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.04%) is water.^[3]

Adjacent counties

Saguache County - north
Alamosa County - east
Conejos County - south
Archuleta County - southwest
Mineral County - west

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Silver Thread Scenic Byway

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	1,944		—
1890	3,451		77.5%
1900	4,080		18.2%
1910	6,563		60.9%
1920	7,855		19.7%
1930	9,953		26.7%
1940	12,404		24.6%
1950	12,832		3.5%
1960	11,160		−13.0%
1970	10,494		−6.0%
1980	10,511		0.2%
1990	10,770		2.5%
2000	12,413		15.3%
2010	11,982		−3.5%
2020	11,539		−3.7%
2023 (est.)	11,188	^[4]	−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[5] 1790-1960^[6] 1900-1990^[7] 1990-2000^[8] 2010-2020^[1]

At the 2000 census there were 12,413 people, 4,701 households, and 3,417 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). There were 6,003 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.93% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 21.45% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. 41.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[9] Of the 4,701 households 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 24.10% of households were one person and 10.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 28.10% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median household income was $31,836 and the median family income was $36,809. Males had a median income of $30,432 versus $23,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,650. About 11.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Rio Grande County, Colorado^[10]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,660	58.05%	2,495	39.57%	150	2.38%
2016	3,085	55.75%	2,001	36.16%	448	8.10%
2012	2,918	52.74%	2,478	44.79%	137	2.48%
2008	2,930	53.82%	2,448	44.97%	66	1.21%
2004	3,448	62.40%	2,006	36.30%	72	1.30%
2000	3,111	61.30%	1,707	33.64%	257	5.06%
1996	2,129	49.50%	1,720	39.99%	452	10.51%
1992	1,927	42.51%	1,541	34.00%	1,065	23.49%
1988	2,626	62.01%	1,545	36.48%	64	1.51%
1984	3,122	73.25%	1,104	25.90%	36	0.84%
1980	2,844	63.37%	1,370	30.53%	274	6.11%
1976	2,627	62.37%	1,475	35.02%	110	2.61%
1972	2,787	69.69%	1,029	25.73%	183	4.58%
1968	2,442	58.32%	1,562	37.31%	183	4.37%
1964	1,699	43.94%	2,161	55.88%	7	0.18%
1960	2,524	58.53%	1,782	41.33%	6	0.14%
1956	2,816	66.04%	1,441	33.79%	7	0.16%
1952	3,201	70.11%	1,350	29.57%	15	0.33%
1948	2,049	52.86%	1,814	46.80%	13	0.34%
1944	2,567	65.82%	1,325	33.97%	8	0.21%
1940	3,075	57.40%	2,242	41.85%	40	0.75%
1936	1,884	41.64%	2,574	56.90%	66	1.46%
1932	1,557	36.57%	2,539	59.63%	162	3.80%
1928	2,254	64.03%	1,226	34.83%	40	1.14%
1924	1,572	53.51%	922	31.38%	444	15.11%
1920	1,660	61.01%	985	36.20%	76	2.79%
1916	886	32.61%	1,756	64.63%	75	2.76%
1912	698	24.98%	1,286	46.03%	810	28.99%