Montezuma County, Colorado

Montezuma County has been settled since approximately AD 600, and had an estimated population of approximately 100,000, four times its current population, in the 12th century. However, a series of events caused virtually all permanent settlements to be abandoned between 1200 and 1300, and the area was contested between nomadic Ute and Navajo bands until resettlement occurred in the 1870s. Montezuma County was created out of the western portion of La Plata County by the Colorado Legislature in April 1889. It was named in honor of Moctezuma II, a famous chief of the Aztec Indians in Mexico. The building ruins in Mesa Verde National Park were thought to be of Aztec origin at the time.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,040 square miles (5,300 km²), of which 2,030 square miles (5,300 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (0.5%) is water.[3]

A large county, roughly 1/3 of its area is tribal land, 1/3 is federal land (administered by the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management), and 1/3 private or state/county land. It is also varied topographically, ranging in elevation from about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) to more than 13,200 feet (4,000 m), and from high Colorado Plateau desert to alpine tundra. The county has the second largest reservoir in Colorado, McPhee Reservoir, many other large reservoirs, and hundreds of private lakes and ponds. Much of the county is irrigated cropland, and it produces fruit, large numbers of cattle and sheep, and beans. It is served by U.S. Highways 160 and 491 (formerly US 666), and by Cortez Municipal Airport. It has no rail service, although both Mancos and Dolores were established as railroad towns in the 1890s.

National protected areas

Montezuma County includes the Colorado section of the Four Corners Monument.

• Calico National Recreation Trail
• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (part)
• Highline Loop National Recreation Trail
• Hovenweep National Monument (part)
• Lowry Ruin National Historic Landmark, now part of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Mesa Verde Wilderness
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• Petroglyph Point National Recreation Trail
• San Juan National Forest
• Yucca House National Monument

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 23,830 people, 9,201 households, and 6,514 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 10,497 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.72% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 11.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 9.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,201 households out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $38,071. Males had a median income of $30,666 versus $21,181 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,003. About 13.10% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

In its early history Montezuma County favored the Democratic Party. It was one of the few counties in the West to be won by Alton B. Parker in 1904, and along with neighboring La Plata County was one of only two Colorado counties to give a plurality to John W. Davis in the three-way 1924 election. However, since the 1940s Montezuma has been a strongly Republican county: no Democrat since 1968 has won forty percent of the county's vote in a Presidential election.

In gubernatorial elections, Montezuma County is also Republican-leaning: in 2010 it was along with neighboring Dolores County one of only two counties to give a plurality to Dan Maes.[11] The last Democratic gubernatorial nominee to win Montezuma County was Roy Romer in 1990 when he carried all but four counties statewide.[12] The last Democratic senatorial candidate to carry Montezuma County was Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell – later to switch to the Republican Party – in 1992.

• Outline of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• William B. Ebbert, represented Montezuma in the Colorado General Assembly in early 20th century.
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Montezuma County, Colorado
• East Canyon Fire

• Montezuma County official website
• Montezuma County Sheriff's Office
• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Yucca House National Monument
• Colorado County Evolution, by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society

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