Rio Grande County, Colorado
| Rio Grande County, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Location in the U.S. state of Colorado |
|
 Colorado's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 10, 1874 |
| Named for | Rio Grande |
| Seat | Del Norte |
| Largest city | Monte Vista |
| Area | |
| • Total | 912 sq mi (2,362 km2) |
| • Land | 912 sq mi (2,362 km2) |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (1 km2), 0.04% |
| Population (est.) | |
| • (2015) | 11,543 |
| • Density | 13/sq mi (5/km²) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 |
| Website | www |
Rio Grande County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,982. The county seat is Del Norte. The county is named for the Rio Grande (Spanish language for "Big River"), which flows through the county.
The gateway to the San Juan Mountains, Rio Grande County is one of the highlights of the San Luis Valley. The county covers 913 square miles (2,360 km2) ranging from approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m) on valley floor to several 13,000-foot peaks. There are three municipalities within the county, Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork and all have been historically developed along the rail line that follows the Rio Grande.
Monte Vista is the county's largest community situated on the valley floor. "Monte", as locals people call it, is the center of the agricultural aspect of the county. There are numerous festivals, events, and clubs that take place in and around Monte Vista, and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a stop for migratory Sand Hill Cranes every year. Del Norte is a quaint town with a focus on its historic past; it is the county seat, home to the Rio Grande County Museum, and maintains a historic façade in its main street.
The newest town in Rio Grande County is South Fork. South Fork is surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest and other public lands and has easy access to Wolf Creek Ski Area. Developed as a logging center it has become a gem of the Valley with a booming housing market, world-class 18-hole golf course, and the distinction of being the "Gateway to the Silver Thread" scenic byway.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 912 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.04%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,413 people, 4,701 households, and 3,417 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 6,003 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.93% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 21.45% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. 41.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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