Las Animas County, Colorado

Las Animas County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,507.[1] The county seat is Trinidad.[2] The county takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en el Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls in Purgatory."[3]

Not to be confused with Las Animas, Colorado.
Las Animas County
U.S. county
Las Animas County Courthouse in Trinidad.
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°19′N 104°02′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 9, 1866
Named forAnimas River
SeatTrinidad
Largest cityTrinidad
Area
 • Total4,775 sq mi (12,370 km2)
 • Land4,773 sq mi (12,360 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.06%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
14,506
 • Density3/sq mi (1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitelasanimascounty.net
Statue of Liberty replica at the Las Animas Courthouse in Trinidad

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,775 square miles (12,370 km2), of which 4,773 square miles (12,360 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.06%) is water.[4] It is the largest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Historic trails and landmarks
  • Mesa de Maya
  • Raton Pass National Historic Landmark
  • Santa Fe National Historic Trail
  • Trinidad State History Museum

Scenic byways
  • Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
  • Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18704,276—
18808,903108.2%
189017,20893.3%
190021,84226.9%
191033,64354.0%
192038,97515.8%
193036,008−7.6%
194032,369−10.1%
195025,902−20.0%
196019,983−22.9%
197015,744−21.2%
198014,897−5.4%
199013,765−7.6%
200015,20710.5%
201015,5072.0%
Est. 201914,506[5]−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1] 2017[10]

At the 2000 census there were 15,207 people, 6,173 households, and 4,092 families living in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 7,629 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.63% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 2.54% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 10.03% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. 41.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] Of the 6,173 households 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 29.70% of households were one person and 14.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median household income was $28,273 and the median family income was $34,072. Males had a median income of $27,182 versus $20,891 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,829. About 14.00% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

A Democratic stronghold since the days of Franklin Roosevelt after having been solidly Republican during the "system of 1896" like the rest of Hispanic Colorado, Las Animas County has seen a strong trend toward the Republican Party in recent elections. Hillary Clinton's 2016 performance was the worst by a Democrat since John W. Davis in 1924. She was also the first Democrat to lose the county since George McGovern in 1972.

Presidential election results
Las Animas County vote
by party in presidential elections[12]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 54.6% 3,710 39.0% 2,650 6.4% 433
2012 47.6% 3,263 50.2% 3,445 2.2% 154
2008 45.6% 3,086 52.7% 3,562 1.7% 113
2004 48.5% 3,196 50.1% 3,300 1.5% 96
2000 42.2% 2,569 53.2% 3,243 4.6% 282
1996 31.5% 1,905 59.8% 3,611 8.7% 526
1992 26.5% 1,739 58.6% 3,847 15.0% 983
1988 34.2% 2,162 64.4% 4,075 1.5% 94
1984 44.4% 2,992 54.4% 3,670 1.2% 80
1980 39.4% 2,917 55.6% 4,117 5.1% 375
1976 36.5% 2,615 62.2% 4,459 1.4% 101
1972 52.6% 3,659 46.3% 3,222 1.1% 76
1968 33.3% 2,499 61.3% 4,602 5.4% 403
1964 21.7% 1,833 78.0% 6,591 0.3% 29
1960 30.7% 2,989 69.0% 6,704 0.3% 29
1956 49.0% 5,099 50.8% 5,290 0.2% 25
1952 40.7% 4,467 58.8% 6,446 0.5% 51
1948 30.8% 3,452 67.7% 7,586 1.5% 172
1944 37.9% 4,179 61.6% 6,800 0.5% 55
1940 35.5% 4,859 64.1% 8,766 0.4% 50
1936 24.5% 3,333 75.1% 10,220 0.4% 59
1932 28.4% 3,651 69.6% 8,964 2.0% 262
1928 53.9% 6,459 44.7% 5,367 1.4% 169
1924 48.7% 5,698 23.6% 2,758 27.8% 3,250
1920 51.2% 4,707 45.3% 4,167 3.5% 322
1916 38.8% 3,511 58.6% 5,300 2.6% 236
1912 43.8% 4318 36.6% 3,604 19.6% 1,932

Communities
Public library in Trinidad serves Las Animas County.
Santa Nina de Atoche church, Tijeras Plaza, Las Animas County, c.1934
Philatelic cover postmarked Officer, Colorado on the last day of service. Mail from this discontinued post office was then handled at Villegreen, Colorado, now also a discontinued post office.

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 182.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. "QuickFacts. Las Animas County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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