Las Animas County, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Las Animas County
County
Las Animas County Courthouse in Trinidad
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	February 9, 1866
Named for	Purgatoire River
Seat	Trinidad
Area
• Total	4,775 sq mi (12,370 km2)
• Land	4,773 sq mi (12,360 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.06%
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,555
• Density	3/sq mi (1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code	719

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. The county seat is Trinidad. 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."

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. It is the largest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

• Interstate 25
• I-25 Bus.
• I-25 Bus.
• U.S. Highway 160
• U.S. Highway 350
• State Highway 12
• State Highway 109
• State Highway 389

Protected areas

• Comanche National Grassland
• Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area
• James M. John State Wildlife Area
• San Isabel National Forest
• Spanish Peaks Wilderness
• Fishers Peak State Park
• Trinidad Lake State Park

Historic trails and landmarks

• Mesa de Maya
• Raton Pass National Historic Landmark
• Santa Fe National Historic Trail
• Trinidad State History Museum

Scenic byways

• Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
• Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

Demographics

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. 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.

Communities

City

• Trinidad

Towns

• Aguilar
• Branson
• Cokedale
• Kim
• Starkville

Unincorporated communities

Former towns

Census-designated places

Gallery

• 

  Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

• 

  Public library in Trinidad serves Las Animas County

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  Santa Nina de Atoche church, Tijeras Plaza, Las Animas County, c.1934

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  Philatelic cover postmarked Officer, Colorado on the last day of service. Mail from this discontinued post office was then handled at Villegreen, Colorado, now also a discontinued post office.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Las Ánimas para niños