Huerfano County, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Huerfano County is one of the 64 counties
of the State of Colorado of the United States
. The county was named for the Huerfano Butte
, a local landmark. The county population was 7,862 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
is Walsenburg
.
of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,082 households, and 1,920 families residing in the county. The population density
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 4,599 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White
, 2.75% Black
or African American
, 2.70% Native American
, 0.39% Asian
, 0.08% Pacific Islander
, 9.41% from other races
, and 3.71% from two or more races. 35.14% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,082 households out of which 25.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% were married couples
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 118.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,775, and the median income for a family was $32,664. Males had a median income of $24,209 versus $21,048 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,242. About 14.10% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Colorado counties
The U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
of the State of Colorado of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The county was named for the Huerfano Butte
Huerfano Butte
Huerfano Butte, elevation , is an isolated volcanic neck. A remanent of an ancient volcano, it was named Huerfano by early Spanish explorers of southern Colorado....
, a local landmark. The county population was 7,862 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Walsenburg
Walsenburg, Colorado
The City of Walsenburg or Los Leones is a Statutory City that is the county seat and the most populous city of Huerfano County, Colorado, United States...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1593.24 square miles (4,126.5 km²), of which 1590.87 square miles (4,120.3 km²) (or 99.85%) is land and 2.38 square miles (6.2 km²) (or 0.15%) is water on the Heurfano Mesa.Adjacent counties
- Pueblo CountyPueblo County, ColoradoPueblo County is the tenth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for the historic city of Pueblo which took its name from the Spanish language word meaning "town" or "village". The United States Census Bureau estimates that the...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- northeast - Las Animas CountyLas Animas County, ColoradoLas Animas County has the largest area of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Las Animas County takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls in...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- southeast - Costilla CountyCostilla County, ColoradoCostilla County is the ninth least populous of the 64 counties in the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 3,663 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado.- History :...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- southwest - Alamosa CountyAlamosa County, ColoradoAlamosa County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name is the Spanish language word for a "grove of cottonwood trees." The county population was 14,966 at U.S. Census 2000...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- west - Custer CountyCuster County, ColoradoCuster County is the tenth least populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 3,503 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Westcliffe.- History :...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- northwest - Saguache CountySaguache County, ColoradoSaguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- northwest
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,082 households, and 1,920 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 4,599 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.75% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.70% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.08% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 9.41% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.71% from two or more races. 35.14% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 3,082 households out of which 25.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 118.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,775, and the median income for a family was $32,664. Males had a median income of $24,209 versus $21,048 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,242. About 14.10% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- BaditoBadito, Colorado-History:Badito, located at the crossing of the Huerfano River, marks a path used by the Ancient Pueblo Peoples during the Basketmaker era.A Spanish expedition led by General Juan de Ulibarri is the first known recorded journey through Badito. He documented the journey through Cuchara Pass, west of...
- CalumetCalumet, ColoradoCalumet is a former mining town founded in 1904, near the portal of the Calumet Coal Mine complex . Calumet is now a ghost town in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States, northwest of Walsenburg. One of the mines, Calumet No. 2, was briefly owned by Henry J. Kaiser and maintained by Kaiser Steel...
- CucharaCuchara, ColoradoCuchara is an unincorporated community in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. It is located near a ski resort in the mountains south of the town of La Veta. Its altitude is 8,468 feet...
- FaristaFarista, ColoradoFarista is an unincorporated town in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. The U.S. Post Office at Walsenburg now serves Farista postal addresses....
- GardnerGardner, ColoradoGardner is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. The Gardner Post Office has the ZIP Code 81040.-External links:* *...
- La VetaLa Veta, ColoradoLa Veta is a Statutory Town in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. The population was 924 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Veta is located at ....
- Navajo Ranch
- WalsenburgWalsenburg, ColoradoThe City of Walsenburg or Los Leones is a Statutory City that is the county seat and the most populous city of Huerfano County, Colorado, United States...
Park, forest, and wilderness
- Greenhorn Mountain WildernessGreenhorn Mountain WildernessThe Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located northwest of Walsenburg, Colorado in the San Isabel and Pike National forests. The wilderness area includes the summit of Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the Wet Mountains of Colorado....
- Lathrop State ParkLathrop State ParkLathrop State Park is a Colorado state park. Out of the 42 State Parks in Colorado, Lathrop State Park was the very first State Park in Colorado and is named after Harold Lathrop, the first park commissioner. The park features 2 lakes, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake, that offer gold medal fishing...
- San Isabel National ForestSan Isabel National ForestSan Isabel National Forest is located in central Colorado. The forest contains 19 of the state's 54 fourteeners, peaks over high, including Mount Elbert, the highest point in Colorado....
- Sangre de Cristo WildernessSangre de Cristo WildernessThe Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is a long and narrow wilderness area covering much of the Sangre de Cristo Range centered about Saguache County and Custer County, Colorado. Smaller areas are located in the counties of Fremont, Alamosa, and Huerfano. All of the wilderness area is located on U.S...
- Spanish Peaks WildernessSpanish Peaks WildernessThe Spanish Peaks Wilderness is a 17,855 acre wilderness area in Huerfano County and Las Animas County, Colorado, USA, located 20 miles southwest of Walsenburg. All of the wilderness area is located on U.S...
See also
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado countiesColorado countiesThe U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Huerfano County, Colorado