Baca County, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Baca County is the southeasternmost of the 64 counties
of the state of Colorado of the United States
. The county population was 4,517 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
is Springfield
.
. Baca County was named in honor of pioneer
and Colorado territorial legislator
Felipe Baca.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 4,517 people, 1,905 households, and 1,268 families residing in the county. The population density
was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,364 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White
, 0.04% Black
or African American
, 1.20% Native American
, 0.15% Asian
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
, 2.99% from other races
, and 1.79% from two or more races. 7.02% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,905 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,099, and the median income for a family was $34,018. Males had a median income of $23,169 versus $18,292 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,068. About 12.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Colorado counties
The U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
of the state of Colorado of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The county population was 4,517 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Springfield
Springfield, Colorado
The historic town of Springfield is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and most populous town of Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,562 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Springfield, Missouri, the origin of early settlers to the town...
.
History
Baca County was created by the Colorado legislature on April 16, 1889, out of the eastern portions of Las Animas CountyLas Animas County, Colorado
Las Animas County has the largest area of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Las Animas County takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls in...
. Baca County was named in honor of pioneer
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
and Colorado territorial legislator
Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
Felipe Baca.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 2557.09 square miles (6,622.8 km²), of which 2555.72 square miles (6,619.3 km²) (or 99.95%) is land and 1.37 square miles (3.5 km²) (or 0.05%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Prowers County, ColoradoProwers County, ColoradoProwers County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of John W. Prowers, a leading pioneer in the lower Arkansas valley region. The county population was 14,483 at U.S. Census 2000...
- north - Stanton County, KansasStanton County, KansasStanton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,235...
- east - Morton County, KansasMorton County, KansasMorton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,233...
- east - Cimarron County, OklahomaCimarron County, OklahomaCimarron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Throughout most of its history it has had the smallest population and the lowest population density of any county in Oklahoma. As of 2010 census, the population was 2,475...
- south - Union County, New MexicoUnion County, New Mexico-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.7% White*1.8% Black*2.0% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.3% Two or more races*11.7% Other races*39.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- southwest - Las Animas County, ColoradoLas Animas County, ColoradoLas Animas County has the largest area of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Las Animas County takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls in...
- west - Bent County, ColoradoBent County, ColoradoBent 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 5,998 at U.S. Census 2000...
- northwest
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,517 people, 1,905 households, and 1,268 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,364 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.15% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.99% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.79% from two or more races. 7.02% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,905 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,099, and the median income for a family was $34,018. Males had a median income of $23,169 versus $18,292 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,068. About 12.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- CampoCampo, ColoradoThe town of Campo is a Statutory Town located in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 150 at the 2000 census. The town is situated on the Great Plains, straddling U.S...
- DeoraDeora, ColoradoDeora is an unincorporated town in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The U.S. Post Office at Las Animas now serves Deora postal addresses....
- LycanLycan, ColoradoLycan is an unincorporated town in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The U.S. Post Office at Two Buttes now serves Lycan postal addresses....
- PritchettPritchett, ColoradoPritchett is a Statutory Town in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 137 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pritchett is located at ....
- SpringfieldSpringfield, ColoradoThe historic town of Springfield is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and most populous town of Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,562 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Springfield, Missouri, the origin of early settlers to the town...
- Two ButtesTwo Buttes, ColoradoThe town of Two Buttes is a Statutory Town located in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 67 at the U.S. Census 2000.-Geography:Two Buttes is located at ....
- UtleyvilleUtleyville, ColoradoUtleyville is an unincorporated town in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The U.S. Post Office at Pritchett now serves Utleyville postal addresses.- Geography :Utleyville is located at ....
- VilasVilas, ColoradoThe town of Vilas is a Statutory Town located in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Vilas is located at ....
- WalshWalsh, ColoradoWalsh is a Statutory Town in Baca County, Colorado, United States. The population was 723 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Walsh is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of ....
See also
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado countiesColorado countiesThe U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Baca County, Colorado