Archuleta County, Colorado


Archuleta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,359. The county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county is Pagosa Springs.

History

Archuleta County was created by the Colorado legislature on April 14, 1885, out of western Conejos County. It was named for Jose Manuel Archuleta, "head of one of the old Spanish families of New Mexico", and in honor of his son Antonio D. Archuleta, who was the Senator from Conejos County at the time.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 13,359, 5,792 households, and 9,495 housing units, and 42.2% of residents lived in urban areas while 57.8% lived in rural areas.
Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 28.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.2 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.3 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 80.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 12.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.2% of the population.
There were 5,792 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 9,495 housing units, of which 39.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.6% were owner-occupied and 21.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.4%.

American Community Survey

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for the county, the average household size was 2.34 persons, the median household income was $55,658, the per capita income was $32,995, and about 9.40% of the population were at or below the poverty line.

Politics

As of January 2022, Archuleta County had approximately 10,696 active registered voters. There were 40.6% unaffiliated with a party, 38.3% Republican, 19.6% Democrat,.8% Libertarian,.2% Green, and.5% various other parties.
Voting in the county tends to favor conservative choices, especially at the state and national level, but winning elections for unaffiliated local candidates are not uncommon.
RepublicanDemocratUnaffiliated
2022, District 362.30%37.70%
2020, District 150.30%49.70%
2020, District 252.00%48.00%
2018, District 397.20%2.80%
2016, District 148.50%21.80%29.70%
2016, District 256.40%20.70%22.90%
2014, District 346.90%53.10%
2012, District 185.70%14.30%
2012, District 261.90%38.10%
2010, District 342.50%57.50%

Communities

Town

  • Pagosa Springs

    Census-designated place

  • Arboles

    Other unincorporated places

  • Chimney Rock
  • Chromo
  • Juanita
  • Dyke
  • *Apparently named for the first county sheriff and later county commissioner, Wm. Dyke. It can be found listed on USGS and FAA maps.

    Education

School districts include: