Founded March 25, 1889 Seat La Junta Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6 Area 3,289 km² Unemployment rate 6.8% (Apr 2015) University Otero Junior College | Named for Miguel Antonio Otero Congressional district 4th Website www.oterogov.com Population 18,703 (2013) Largest city La Junta | |
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Cities La Junta, Rocky Ford, Fowler, Manzanola, Swink, Cheraw Rivers Arkansas River, Purgatoire River, Apishapa River | ||
1 390 acres irrigated cropland grass farmsteads in otero county colorado
Otero County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,831. The county seat is La Junta. The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, one of the founders of the town of La Junta and a member of a prominent Hispanic family.
Contents
- 1 390 acres irrigated cropland grass farmsteads in otero county colorado
- Map of Otero County CO USA
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- National protected areas
- Trails and byways
- Demographics
- City
- Towns
- Census designated places
- References
Map of Otero County, CO, USA
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,270 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,262 square miles (3,270 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
National protected areas
Trails and byways
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,311 people, 7,920 households, and 5,472 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 8,813 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.02% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 15.06% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 37.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,920 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,738, and the median income for a family was $35,906. Males had a median income of $26,996 versus $21,001 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,113. About 14.20% of families and 18.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.