# Archuleta County, Colorado

Archuleta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,359. The county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county is Pagosa Springs.

## History

Archuleta County was created by the Colorado legislature on April 14, 1885, out of western Conejos County. It was named for Jose Manuel Archuleta, "head of one of the old Spanish families of New Mexico", and in honor of his son Antonio D. Archuleta, who was the Senator from Conejos County at the time.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,356 square miles (3,510 km$^2$), of which 1,350 square miles (3,500 km$^2$) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km$^2$) (0.4%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Mineral County, Colorado - north
* Rio Grande County, Colorado - northeast
* Conejos County, Colorado - east
* Rio Arriba County, New Mexico - south
* San Juan County, New Mexico - southwest
* La Plata County, Colorado - west
* Hinsdale County, Colorado - northwest

### Airport

* Stevens Field

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 84
* U.S. Highway 160
* State Highway 17
* State Highway 151

### National protected areas

* Rio Grande National Forest
* San Juan National Forest
* Chimney Rock National Monument
* South San Juan Wilderness

### State protected area

* Navajo State Park

### Scenic and historic trails

* Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
* Old Spanish National Historic Trail

### Waterways

* Chamita River
* Dutton Creek
* Little Navajo River
* Martinez Creek
* McCabe Creek
* Mill Creek
* Piedra River
* Rio Blanco
* Rio Chama
* San Juan River
* Stollsteimer Creek
* Williams Creek

## Demographics

According to the 2020 census, there were 13,359 people, 5,736 households living in the county. The average household size was 2.34 persons. The population density was 9.9 people per square mile (3.8 people/km$^2$). As of 2021, there were 9,693 housing units at an average density of 7.2 per square mile (2.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 3.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 3.1% from two or more races. 18.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The age distribution was 4.1% under 5 years, 17.5% under 18 years, 51.1% between 18 and 64 years, and 27.3% 65 years or older. 49.9% were female.
The median household income (in 2020 dollars) was $55,658. The per capita income for the county was $32,995. About 9.40% of the population were at or below the poverty line.

## Politics

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.
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.
Archuleta County Commissioner elections, 2010-2022 :
| | 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 :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,218 | 55.77% | 3,904 | 41.72% | 235 | 2.51% |
| 2020 | 5,189 | 56.75% | 3,738 | 40.88% | 217 | 2.37% |
| 2016 | 4,264 | 58.10% | 2,500 | 34.06% | 575 | 7.83% |
| 2012 | 3,872 | 57.50% | 2,679 | 39.78% | 183 | 2.72% |
| 2008 | 3,638 | 54.91% | 2,836 | 42.81% | 151 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | 3,601 | 61.67% | 2,141 | 36.67% | 97 | 1.66% |
| 2000 | 2,988 | 62.80% | 1,432 | 30.10% | 338 | 7.10% |
| 1996 | 1,963 | 57.11% | 997 | 29.01% | 477 | 13.88% |
| 1992 | 1,242 | 44.11% | 819 | 29.08% | 755 | 26.81% |
| 1988 | 1,440 | 63.66% | 795 | 35.15% | 27 | 1.19% |
| 1984 | 1,557 | 71.98% | 584 | 27.00% | 22 | 1.02% |
| 1980 | 1,252 | 65.89% | 532 | 28.00% | 116 | 6.11% |
| 1976 | 768 | 53.63% | 632 | 44.13% | 32 | 2.23% |
| 1972 | 606 | 64.47% | 300 | 31.91% | 34 | 3.62% |
| 1968 | 486 | 49.69% | 409 | 41.82% | 83 | 8.49% |
| 1964 | 370 | 36.71% | 632 | 62.70% | 6 | 0.60% |
| 1960 | 489 | 46.26% | 567 | 53.64% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 635 | 59.91% | 423 | 39.91% | 2 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 691 | 64.58% | 377 | 35.23% | 2 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 597 | 55.07% | 479 | 44.19% | 8 | 0.74% |
| 1944 | 602 | 58.45% | 427 | 41.46% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1940 | 869 | 53.71% | 744 | 45.98% | 5 | 0.31% |
| 1936 | 541 | 40.59% | 761 | 57.09% | 31 | 2.33% |
| 1932 | 462 | 32.77% | 928 | 65.82% | 20 | 1.42% |
| 1928 | 610 | 56.48% | 447 | 41.39% | 23 | 2.13% |
| 1924 | 451 | 43.12% | 269 | 25.72% | 326 | 31.17% |
| 1920 | 700 | 63.12% | 379 | 34.17% | 30 | 2.71% |
| 1916 | 473 | 35.70% | 830 | 62.64% | 22 | 1.66% |
| 1912 | 452 | 28.88% | 609 | 38.91% | 504 | 32.20% |
| 1908 | 503 | 46.06% | 505 | 46.25% | 84 | 7.69% |
| 1904 | 674 | 63.71% | 357 | 33.74% | 27 | 2.55% |
| 1900 | 578 | 59.40% | 391 | 40.18% | 4 | 0.41% |
| 1896 | 141 | 26.26% | 393 | 73.18% | 3 | 0.56% |
| 1892 | 107 | 47.98% | 0 | 0.00% | 116 | 52.02% |
| 1888 | 127 | 62.25% | 77 | 37.75% | 0 | 0.00% |

## Communities
### Town

* Pagosa Springs

### Census-designated place

* Arboles

### Other unincorporated places

* Chimney Rock
* Chromo
* Juanita
* Dyke
** Apparently named for the first county sheriff (circa 1890) and later county commissioner, Wm. Dyke. It can be found listed on USGS and FAA maps.

## Education

School districts include:
* Archuleta County School District 50-JT
* Bayfield School District 10 JT-R
* Ignacio School District 11-JT