Archuleta County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,359. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

and the only

incorporated municipality Municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally owned c ...

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 Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

families of

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

", 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 United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Mineral County, Colorado Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 865, making it the third-least populous county in Colorado, behind San Juan County and Hinsdale County. The county seat and only ...

- north *

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

- northeast *

Conejos County, Colorado Conejos County (Spanish language, Spanish for "rabbits") is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 7,461. The county seat is the Unincorporated area, unincorporated c ...

- east *

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico Rio Arriba County () is a List of counties in New Mexico, county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 40,363. Its county seat is Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, Tierra Amarilla. Its ...

- south *

San Juan County, New Mexico San Juan County () is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 121,661 making it the fifth-most populous county in New Mexico. Its county ...

- southwest *

La Plata County, Colorado La Plata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,638. The county seat is Durango. The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" means "the s ...

- west *

Hinsdale County, Colorado Hinsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 788, making it the second least-populous county in Colorado. With a population density of only , it is also ...

- northwest

Airport

* Stevens Field

Major highways

U.S. Highway 84 * US 160

U.S. Highway 160 * Colorado 17

State Highway 17 * Colorado 151

State Highway 151

National protected areas

Rio Grande National Forest Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million-acre (7,530 km2) U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of t ...

San Juan National Forest The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezum ...

* Chimney Rock National Monument *

South San Juan Wilderness The South San Juan Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the San Juan National Forest, east of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Pagosa Springs, in southern Colorado. The area, which spans 158,790 acres, was designated a Wilderness Area and pu ...

State protected area

* Navajo State Park

Scenic and historic trails

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail, CDT) is a United States National Scenic Trail with a length measured by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition of between the U.S. border with Chihuahua, Mexico and ...

* Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Waterways

* Chamita River * Dutton Creek * Little Navajo River * Martinez Creek * McCabe Creek * Mill Creek * Piedra River * Rio Blanco * Rio Chama * San Juan River * Stollsteimer Creek * Williams Creek

Demographics

According to the 2020 census, there were 13,359 people, 5,736 households living in the county. The average household size was 2.34 persons. The population density was . As of 2021, there were 9,693 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 3.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 3.1% from two or more races. 18.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The age distribution was 4.1% under 5 years, 17.5% under 18 years, 51.1% between 18 and 64 years, and 27.3% 65 years or older. 49.9% were female. The median household income (in 2020 dollars) was $55,658. The per capita income for the county was $32,995. About 9.40% of the population were at or below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

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.

Communities

Town

* Pagosa Springs

Census-designated place

* Arboles

Other unincorporated places

* Chimney Rock * Chromo * Juanita *Dyke **Apparently named for the first county sheriff (circa 1890) and later county commissioner, Wm. Dyke. It can be found listed on

USGS The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an government agency, agency of the United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geograp ...

and FAA maps.

Education

School districts include:
Text list
/ref> * Archuleta County School District 50-JT * Bayfield School District 10 JT-R * Ignacio School District 11-JT

References

External links

Archuleta County Government websiteColorado Historical Society
{{authority control 1885 establishments in Colorado Populated places established in 1885 Colorado counties