Archuleta County was created by the Colorado legislature on April 14, 1885, out of westernConejos County. It was named for Jose Manuel Archuleta, "head of one of the oldSpanish families ofNew Mexico",[3] and in honor of his sonAntonio D. Archuleta, who was the Senator from Conejos County at the time.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,356 square miles (3,510 km2), of which 1,350 square miles (3,500 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 13,359, 5,792 households, and 9,495 housing units, and 42.2% of residents lived in urban areas while 57.8% lived in rural areas.[12][13]
Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 28.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.2 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.3 males.[13]
Archuleta County, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
There were 5,792 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 9,495 housing units, of which 39.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.6% were owner-occupied and 21.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.4%.[12]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for the county, the average household size was 2.34 persons, the median household income (in 2020 dollars) was $55,658, the per capita income was $32,995, and about 9.40% of the population were at or below thepoverty line.[1]
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.[18]
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.[19]
Archuleta County Commissioner elections, 2010-2022[19]
Republican
Democrat
Unaffiliated
2022, District 3
62.30%
37.70%
2020, District 1
50.30%
49.70%
2020, District 2
52.00%
48.00%
2018, District 3
97.20%
2.80%
2016, District 1
48.50%
21.80%
29.70%
2016, District 2
56.40%
20.70%
22.90%
2014, District 3
46.90%
53.10%
2012, District 1
85.70%
14.30%
2012, District 2
61.90%
38.10%
2010, District 3
42.50%
57.50%
United States presidential election results for Archuleta County, Colorado[20]
Apparently named for the first county sheriff (circa 1890) and later county commissioner, Wm. Dyke.[21] It can be found listed onUSGS andFAA maps.[22][23]
