Las Animas County
County
Las Animas County Courthouse in Trinidad
Las Animas County Courthouse in Trinidad
Map of Colorado highlighting Las Animas County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°19′N 104°02′W / 37.32°N 104.04°W / 37.32; -104.04
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 9, 1866
Named forPurgatoire River
SeatTrinidad
Area
 • Total4,775 sq mi (12,370 km2)
 • Land4,773 sq mi (12,360 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.06%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,555
 • Density3/sq mi (1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code719
Websitelasanimascounty.colorado.gov
Statue of Liberty replica at the Las Animas Courthouse in Trinidad

Las Animas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,555.[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]

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

Major highways

Protected areas

Historic trails and landmarks

Scenic byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202014,555−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

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 (1.2 people/km2). There were 7,629 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/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.[9] 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. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat to win the presidency without the county since Woodrow Wilson in 1912.

United States presidential election results for Las Animas County, Colorado[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,284 53.81% 3,497 43.93% 180 2.26%
2016 3,710 54.62% 2,650 39.01% 433 6.37%
2012 3,263 47.55% 3,445 50.20% 154 2.24%
2008 3,086 45.64% 3,562 52.68% 113 1.67%
2004 3,196 48.48% 3,300 50.06% 96 1.46%
2000 2,569 42.16% 3,243 53.22% 282 4.63%
1996 1,905 31.53% 3,611 59.76% 526 8.71%
1992 1,739 26.47% 3,847 58.56% 983 14.96%
1988 2,162 34.15% 4,075 64.37% 94 1.48%
1984 2,992 44.38% 3,670 54.43% 80 1.19%
1980 2,917 39.37% 4,117 55.57% 375 5.06%
1976 2,615 36.45% 4,459 62.15% 101 1.41%
1972 3,659 52.59% 3,222 46.31% 76 1.09%
1968 2,499 33.30% 4,602 61.33% 403 5.37%
1964 1,833 21.68% 6,591 77.97% 29 0.34%
1960 2,989 30.74% 6,704 68.96% 29 0.30%
1956 5,290 50.80% 5,099 48.96% 25 0.24%
1952 4,467 40.74% 6,446 58.79% 51 0.47%
1948 3,452 30.79% 7,586 67.67% 172 1.53%
1944 4,179 37.87% 6,800 61.63% 55 0.50%
1940 4,859 35.53% 8,766 64.10% 50 0.37%
1936 3,333 24.49% 10,220 75.08% 59 0.43%
1932 3,651 28.35% 8,964 69.61% 262 2.03%
1928 5,367 44.74% 6,459 53.85% 169 1.41%
1924 5,698 48.68% 2,758 23.56% 3,250 27.76%
1920 4,707 51.19% 4,167 45.31% 322 3.50%
1916 3,511 38.81% 5,300 58.58% 236 2.61%
1912 4,318 43.82% 3,604 36.57% 1,932 19.61%

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Former towns

Census-designated places

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  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. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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