Otero County
County
Otero County Courthouse in La Junta
Otero County Courthouse in La Junta
Map of Colorado highlighting Otero County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°54′N 103°43′W / 37.9°N 103.71°W / 37.9; -103.71
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 25, 1889
Named forMiguel Antonio Otero
SeatLa Junta
Largest cityLa Junta
Area
 • Total1,270 sq mi (3,300 km2)
 • Land1,262 sq mi (3,270 km2)
 • Water7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,690
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiteoterocounty.colorado.gov
Otero Museum and Fine Arts League in La Junta
Cattle feedlot in Otero County west of Rocky Ford

Otero County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,690.[1] The county seat is La Junta.[2] The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, one of the founders of the town of La Junta and a member of a prominent Hispanic family.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,270 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,262 square miles (3,270 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18904,192—
190011,522174.9%
191020,20175.3%
192022,62312.0%
193024,3907.8%
194023,571−3.4%
195025,2757.2%
196024,128−4.5%
197023,523−2.5%
198022,567−4.1%
199020,185−10.6%
200020,3110.6%
201018,831−7.3%
202018,690−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 20,311 people, 7,920 households, and 5,472 families living in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). There were 8,813 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.02% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 15.06% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 37.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8] Of the 7,920 households 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.80% of households were one person and 12.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median household income was $29,738 and the median family income was $35,906. Males had a median income of $26,996 versus $21,001 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,113. About 14.20% of families and 18.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Otero is a strongly Republican county, although less so than the counties of the Colorado High Plains. It was last won for the Democratic Party by Bill Clinton in 1996. Before that, Otero tended to be a Republican-leaning county at the Presidential level, although it did vote for Wilson twice, FDR in 1932 and 1936, Truman in 1948 and Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Otero County, Colorado[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,756 60.11% 3,605 37.65% 215 2.25%
2016 4,928 58.31% 2,943 34.82% 581 6.87%
2012 4,382 53.49% 3,647 44.52% 163 1.99%
2008 4,393 54.47% 3,547 43.98% 125 1.55%
2004 4,947 60.48% 3,164 38.68% 69 0.84%
2000 4,082 55.83% 2,963 40.52% 267 3.65%
1996 3,356 45.13% 3,386 45.53% 695 9.35%
1992 3,120 37.53% 3,485 41.92% 1,708 20.55%
1988 4,265 51.39% 3,910 47.11% 124 1.49%
1984 5,373 62.37% 3,005 34.88% 237 2.75%
1980 4,801 54.55% 3,294 37.43% 706 8.02%
1976 4,597 51.54% 4,118 46.17% 205 2.30%
1972 6,016 65.75% 2,929 32.01% 205 2.24%
1968 4,690 49.66% 3,891 41.20% 864 9.15%
1964 3,605 37.41% 5,999 62.26% 32 0.33%
1960 6,015 58.80% 4,199 41.05% 15 0.15%
1956 5,964 61.53% 3,722 38.40% 7 0.07%
1952 6,552 63.57% 3,721 36.10% 34 0.33%
1948 4,311 33.08% 8,640 66.30% 81 0.62%
1944 5,002 56.74% 3,791 43.00% 23 0.26%
1940 5,459 54.11% 4,567 45.27% 62 0.61%
1936 3,859 39.49% 5,775 59.10% 138 1.41%
1932 3,974 42.79% 5,107 54.99% 206 2.22%
1928 5,788 74.88% 1,876 24.27% 66 0.85%
1924 4,694 59.19% 1,938 24.44% 1,298 16.37%
1920 3,846 55.93% 2,727 39.66% 303 4.41%
1916 2,678 38.68% 3,963 57.24% 283 4.09%
1912 1,293 20.98% 2,885 46.80% 1,986 32.22%

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

External links

37°54′N 103°43′W / 37.90°N 103.71°W / 37.90; -103.71

Places adjacent to Otero County, Colorado
Municipalities and communities of Otero County, Colorado, United States
State of Colorado
Authority control databases
Categories