Rio Blanco County, Colorado

Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Entering the county from the south on State Highway 13.
Location in the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 25, 1889
Named for	White River
Seat	Meeker
Largest town	Meeker
Area
• Total	3,223 sq mi (8,348 km2)
• Land	3,221 sq mi (8,342 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (5 km2), 0.06%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	6,707
• Density	2.1/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.rbc.us

Rio Blanco County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,666. The county seat is Meeker. The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,223 square miles (8,350 km²), of which 3,221 square miles (8,340 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.06%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Moffat County - north
• Routt County - northeast
• Garfield County - south
• Uintah County, Utah - west

National protected areas

• Routt National Forest
• White River National Forest
• Flat Tops Wilderness

Scenic byways

• Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
• Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,200		—
1900	1,690		40.8%
1910	2,332		38.0%
1920	3,135		34.4%
1930	2,980		−4.9%
1940	2,943		−1.2%
1950	4,719		60.3%
1960	5,150		9.1%
1970	4,842		−6.0%
1980	6,255		29.2%
1990	5,972		−4.5%
2000	5,986		0.2%
2010	6,666		11.4%
Est. 2014	6,707		0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,986 people, 2,306 households, and 1,646 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,855 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.01% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 4.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,306 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,711, and the median income for a family was $44,425. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $19,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,344. About 6.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Meeker (county seat)
• Buford
• Rangely
• Rio Blanco

See also

• Outline of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

External links

• Rio Blanco County Government website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society