Bent County, Colorado

Bent County, Colorado
Bent County Courthouse in Las Animas, Colorado
Location in the state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 6, 1874
Named for	William Bent
Seat	Las Animas
Largest city	Las Animas
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,541.12 sq mi (3,991 km²) 1,513.90 sq mi (3,921 km²) 27.22 sq mi (70 km²), 1.77%
PopulationEst.  - (2012)  - Density	5,773 4.0/sq mi (1.5/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.bentcounty.org

Statue of cavalry soldier at Bent County Courthouse

POW-MIA monument at Bent County Courthouse

Bent County Democrat newspaper in Las Animas

Bent County rodeo arena

Bent County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent. The county population was 6,499 at the 2010 census. The county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county is the city of Las Animas.

History

Bent County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 6, 1874, when Greenwood County, created only four years earlier, was dissolved and divided between Bent and Elbert counties. At the time of its creation, it included a large portion of southeastern Colorado. In 1889, Bent County acquired its current borders when it lost much of its territory to the newly created Cheyenne, Lincoln, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers counties.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,541.12 square miles (3,991.5 km²), of which 1,513.90 square miles (3,921.0 km²) (or 98.23%) is land and 27.22 square miles (70.5 km²) (or 1.77%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Kiowa County, Colorado - north
• Prowers County, Colorado - east
• Baca County, Colorado - southeast
• Las Animas County, Colorado - southwest
• Otero County, Colorado - west

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	592		—
1880	1,654		179.4%
1890	1,313		−20.6%
1900	3,049		132.2%
1910	5,043		65.4%
1920	9,705		92.4%
1930	9,134		−5.9%
1940	9,653		5.7%
1950	8,775		−9.1%
1960	7,419		−15.5%
1970	6,493		−12.5%
1980	5,945		−8.4%
1990	5,048		−15.1%
2000	5,998		18.8%
2010	6,499		8.4%
Est. 2012	5,773		−11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

Bent County, Colorado

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,998 people, 2,003 households, and 1,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,366 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.53% White, 3.65% Black or African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 10.25% from other races, and 3.77% from two or more races. 30.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,003 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 129.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $34,096. Males had a median income of $22,755 versus $24,261 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,567. About 16.60% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Able
• Boggsville
• Caddoa
• Fort Lyon
• Hasty
• Hilton
• Las Animas (county seat)
• Marlman
• McClave
• Melina
• Ninaview

State park

• John Martin Reservoir State Park

Trails and byway

• American Discovery Trail
• Santa Fe National Historic Trail
• Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

See also

• Outline of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• Colorado census statistical areas
• Colorado counties
• Colorado municipalities
• George W. Swink, retailer and cattleman
• Greenwood County, Colorado Territory
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bent County, Colorado

External links

• Bent County Government website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society