Bent County, Colorado

County in Colorado, United States

County in Colorado

Bent County

County

Bent County Courthouse in Las Animas

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 37°57′N 103°05′W﻿ / ﻿37.95°N 103.08°W﻿ / 37.95; -103.08
Country|  United States
State|  Colorado
Founded| February 6, 1874
Named after| William Bent
Seat| Las Animas
Largest city| Las Animas
Area

• Total

| 1,541 sq mi (3,990 km2)
• Land| 1,513 sq mi (3,920 km2)
• Water| 28 sq mi (70 km2)  1.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 5,650

• Estimate

(2024)

| 5,779
• Density| 3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.bentcounty.net

Bent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,650.[1] The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Las Animas.[2] The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent.

## History

[edit]

As Colorado experienced population growth following the American Civil War, government had to be closer to the people for commerce and justice to be better served in growing communities. Territorial Bent County was created in February 1870, followed by Greenwood County the following month. The June 1, 1870, Federal Census was several months away and plans were being made to apply for statehood. On February 2, 1874, Grand County and Elbert County were formed. On February 6, 1874, Greenwood County was dissolved and divided between Bent and Elbert Counties. At the time of this annexation, Bent County included a large portion of southeastern Colorado. In 1889, Bent County acquired its current borders when it was partitioned to create Cheyenne, Lincoln, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers Counties.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,541 square miles (3,990 km2), of which 28 square miles (73 km2) (1.8%) are covered by water.[3]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Kiowa County \- north
* Prowers County \- east
* Baca County \- southeast
* Las Animas County \- southwest
* Otero County \- west

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 50
* State Highway 101
* State Highway 109
* State Highway 194
* State Highway 196

### State protected area

[edit]

* John Martin Reservoir State Park

### Trails and byway

[edit]

* American Discovery Trail
* Santa Fe National Historic Trail
* Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1870| 592| | —
1880| 1,654| | 179.4%
1890| 1,313| | −20.6%
1900| 3,049| | 132.2%
1910| 5,043| | 65.4%
1920| 9,705| | 92.4%
1930| 9,134| | −5.9%
1940| 9,653| | 5.7%
1950| 8,775| | −9.1%
1960| 7,419| | −15.5%
1970| 6,493| | −12.5%
1980| 5,945| | −8.4%
1990| 5,048| | −15.1%
2000| 5,998| | 18.8%
2010| 6,499| | 8.4%
2020| 5,650| | −13.1%
2024 (est.)| 5,779| [4]| 2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census, 5,998 people, 2,003 households, and 1,388 families resided in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,366 housing units had an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.53% White, 3.65% Black or African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 10.25% from other races, and 3.77% from two or more races. About 30.24% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 2,003 households, 32.5% had children under 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were not families. About 27.2% of households were one person and 12.2% were one person 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 23.8% under 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 138.7 males.

The median income for a household was $28,125 and for a family was $34,096. Males had a median income of $22,755 versus $24,261 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,567. About 16.6% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under 18 and 13.0% of those 65 or over.

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Hasty
* McClave

## Politics

[edit]

Bent is a strongly Republican county, although it is less so than the counties to its east. The last Democrat to carry Bent County was Bill Clinton in 1996, although Michael Dukakis in 1988 was the last to gain a majority.

United States presidential election results for Bent County, Colorado[9] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,496  | 68.34% | 645  | 29.47%  | 48  | 2.19%
2020 | 1,503  | 66.09% | 732  | 32.19%  | 39  | 1.72%
2016 | 1,188  | 61.65% | 590  | 30.62%  | 149  | 7.73%
2012 | 1,075  | 55.36% | 815  | 41.97%  | 52  | 2.68%
2008 | 1,077  | 56.09% | 799  | 41.61%  | 44  | 2.29%
2004 | 1,338  | 62.09% | 785  | 36.43%  | 32  | 1.48%
2000 | 1,096  | 55.83% | 783  | 39.89%  | 84  | 4.28%
1996 | 917  | 41.70%  | 1,046  | 47.57% | 236  | 10.73%
1992 | 759  | 33.63%  | 985  | 43.64% | 513  | 22.73%
1988 | 1,032  | 47.62%  | 1,088  | 50.21% | 47  | 2.17%
1984 | 1,314  | 59.75% | 859  | 39.06%  | 26  | 1.18%
1980 | 1,206  | 51.76% | 894  | 38.37%  | 230  | 9.87%
1976 | 1,156  | 46.61%  | 1,268  | 51.13% | 56  | 2.26%
1972 | 1,525  | 64.29% | 787  | 33.18%  | 60  | 2.53%
1968 | 1,228  | 47.47% | 1,126  | 43.53%  | 233  | 9.01%
1964 | 937  | 34.76%  | 1,737  | 64.43% | 22  | 0.82%
1960 | 1,671  | 57.54% | 1,228  | 42.29%  | 5  | 0.17%
1956 | 1,718  | 57.25% | 1,283  | 42.75%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 1,950  | 59.40% | 1,317  | 40.12%  | 16  | 0.49%
1948 | 1,296  | 43.43%  | 1,658  | 55.56% | 30  | 1.01%
1944 | 1,556  | 51.51% | 1,456  | 48.20%  | 9  | 0.30%
1940 | 1,899  | 51.67% | 1,759  | 47.86%  | 17  | 0.46%
1936 | 1,299  | 40.84%  | 1,821  | 57.25% | 61  | 1.92%
1932 | 1,327  | 39.58%  | 1,948  | 58.10% | 78  | 2.33%
1928 | 1,957  | 72.13% | 741  | 27.31%  | 15  | 0.55%
1924 | 1,511  | 54.14% | 804  | 28.81%  | 476  | 17.05%
1920 | 1,584  | 60.67% | 937  | 35.89%  | 90  | 3.45%
1916 | 833  | 34.80%  | 1,473  | 61.53% | 88  | 3.68%
1912 | 420  | 21.76%  | 730  | 37.82% | 780  | 40.41%
1908 | 915  | 50.72% | 819  | 45.40%  | 70  | 3.88%
1904 | 812  | 63.94% | 416  | 32.76%  | 42  | 3.31%
1900 | 569  | 50.49% | 546  | 48.45%  | 12  | 1.06%
1896 | 197  | 24.63%  | 591  | 73.88% | 12  | 1.50%
1892 | 162  | 40.30%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 240  | 59.70%
1888 | 1,338  | 51.58% | 1,074  | 41.40%  | 182  | 7.02%
1884 | 382  | 44.26%  | 446  | 51.68% | 35  | 4.06%
1880 | 174  | 41.23%  | 242  | 57.35% | 6  | 1.42%

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Las Animas

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Hasty
* McClave

### Unincorporated places

[edit]

* Able
* Boggsville
* Caddoa
* Fort Lyon
* Marlman
* Melina
* Ninaview
* Prowers

## Gallery

[edit]

* Bent County Democrat newspaper in Las Animas

* Bent County rodeo arena

## See also

[edit]

* Government portal
* History portal
* United States portal
* Colorado portal

* Bibliography of Colorado
* Geography of Colorado
* History of Colorado
* Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory
* Arrappahoe County, Jefferson Territory
* Arapahoe County, Colorado Territory
* Greenwood County, Colorado Territory
* George W. Swink, retailer and cattleman
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Bent County, Colorado
* Index of Colorado-related articles
* List of Colorado-related lists
* List of counties in Colorado
* Outline of Colorado

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
9. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bent County, Colorado.

* State of Colorado
* History Colorado
* Bent County Government website
* Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Bent County, Colorado, United States

County seat: Las Animas

City|

* Las Animas

Map of Colorado highlighting Bent County

CDPs|

* Hasty
* McClave

Unincorporated
communities|

* Boggsville
* Caddoa
* Fort Lyon
* Ninaview
* Toonerville

Fort|

* Bent's New Fort

Ghost town|

* Able

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Colorado portal
* United States portal

Places adjacent to Bent County, Colorado

|  | Kiowa County |

|
|

|  |
Otero County |

Bent County, Colorado

| Prowers County
|  |
Las Animas County |  | Baca County

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