County population in 2016: 55,820 (40% urban, 60% rural); it was 43,941 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 9,688 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,424 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 11,857 Renter-occupied apartments: 6,988 (it was 5,485 in 2000)
% of renters here:
32%
State:
34%
Land area: 1692 sq. mi.
Water area: 7.8 sq. mi.
Population density: 33 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in La Plata County: 96.3 (near average, U.S. average is 100)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $1,064 (0.3%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $975 (0.3%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 9.7%
La Plata County:
9.7%
Colorado:
11.0%
(9.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 21.2% for Black residents, 12.6% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 17.6% for American Indian residents, 13.6% for other race residents, 20.0% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 39.3 years old
(Males: 38.4 years old, Females: 40.4 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 43.0 years old, Black residents: 26.1 years old, American Indian residents: 29.2 years old, Asian residents: 28.3 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 29.4 years old, Other race residents: 31.8 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in La Plata County is $652 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $746 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $1047 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in La Plata County: Rusts Sawmill (A), Ridge Point Overlook (B), Beaver Creek Marina (C), Lowry Pueblo Ruins (D), Hackberry Group (E), Goodman Point Group (F), The Forks Campground (G), Stoner Guard Station (H), Stoner Ski Area (I), Priest Gulch Campground (J), Circle K Ranch (K), Wallace Ranch (L), Truelson Ranch (M), Nordenskiolds Site 16 (N), Badger House Overlook (O), Mountezuma County Fairgrounds (P), Dolores Forest Service Facility (Q), Sharkstooth Trailhead (R), Jackson Gulch Campground (S), Dry Canyon Fishing (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in La Plata County include: Francis Xavier Church (A), Lighthouse Baptist Church (B), Emmanuel Church (C), The Chapel (D). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Majors Cemetery (1), Sunset Memorial Gardens (2), Lamb Cemetery (3), Sheek Cemetery (4), Lebanon Cemetery (5), Memorial Garden (6), Goodman Point Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Dry Lake (A), Taylor Mesa Lake (B), Twin Lakes (C), Chicken Lake (D), Cliff Lake (E), Spruce Lake (F), Goodman Lake (G), Moqui Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Tohache Wash (A), West Mancos River (B), Toh Dahstini Wash (C), Grindstone Creek (D), Polly Creek (E), Roaring Forks Creek (F), Dipping Vat Creek (G), Lewis Creek (H), Rio Lado (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in La Plata County include: Yucca House National Monument (1), Cabin Canyon Recreation Site (2), Dolores River State Wildlife Area (3), House Creek Recreation Area (4), Lone Dome Recreation Area (5), McPhee Recreation Area (6), Metaska Recreation Site (7), Dolores River State Wildlife Area (8), Spruce Mill Park (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 4,732 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 95.2% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 44.2%
Number of foreign born residents: 2,095 (44.2% naturalized citizens)
La Plata County:
3.8%
Whole state:
9.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 385
2000 to 2009: 710
1990 to 1999: 351
1980 to 1989: 203
1970 to 1979: 125
Before 1970: 351
Note: State values scaled to La Plata County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 20.7 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 94.4%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 17,394
One, attached: 1,561
Two: 548
3 or 4: 601
5 to 9: 1,004
10 to 19: 807
20 to 49: 828
50 or more: 589
Mobile homes: 3,691
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 51
Housing units in La Plata County with a mortgage: 9,549 (203 second mortgage, 1,002 home equity loan, 22 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 5,642
Here:
64.3% with mortgage
State:
71.6% with mortgage
Religion statistics for La Plata County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Catholic
11,484
5
Evangelical Protestant
3,871
36
Other
2,655
13
Mainline Protestant
2,175
9
None
31,149
-
La Plata County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 10
La Plata County:
2.02 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.50 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:
0.20 / 10,000 pop.
Colorado:
0.15 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 4
This county:
0.81 / 10,000 pop.
Colorado:
0.45 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 24
La Plata County:
4.85 / 10,000 pop.
Colorado:
3.13 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 77
This county:
15.55 / 10,000 pop.
State:
8.99 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
La Plata County:
4.3%
Colorado:
5.3%
Adult obesity rate:
La Plata County:
14.2%
State:
18.4%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
9.1%
State:
9.6%
Agriculture in La Plata County:
Average size of farms: 610 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $17,294 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $111.97 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 6.31% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 75.58% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $18,957 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 6.19% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 86.83% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $53,361 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 89.06% Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 3.55 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.28% Vegetables: 5 harvested acres Land in orchards: 122 acres
Tornado activity:
La Plata County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Colorado state average. It is 56118610.6 times below overall U.S. average.
Earthquake activity:
La Plata County-area historical earthquake activity is above Colorado state average. It is 234% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 6/28/1992 at 11:57:34, a magnitude 7.6 (6.2 MB, 7.6 MS, 7.3 MW, Depth: 0.7 mi, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 534.4 miles away from La Plata County center, causing 3 deaths (1 shaking deaths, 2 other deaths) and 400 injuries, causing $100,000,000 total damage and $40,000,000 insured losses On 10/16/1999 at 09:46:44, a magnitude 7.4 (6.3 MB, 7.4 MS, 7.2 MW, 7.3 ML) earthquake occurred 519.7 miles away from the county center On 10/3/1915 at 06:52:48, a magnitude 7.6 (7.6 UK) earthquake occurred 567.9 miles away from the county center On 5/19/1940 at 04:36:40, a magnitude 7.2 (7.2 UK) earthquake occurred 526.3 miles away from the county center, causing $33,000,000 total damage On 9/2/1992 at 10:26:20, a magnitude 5.9 (5.7 MB, 5.6 MS, 5.6 MW, 5.9 ML, Depth: 9.3 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 313.1 miles away from La Plata County center On 9/13/1994 at 06:01:23, a magnitude 4.6 (4.4 MB, 4.6 ML, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 62.1 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Colorado Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3224: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3224, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Colorado Valley Fire, Incident Period: June 25, 2002 to August 09, 2002, Fire Management Assistance Declared: June 25, 2002, FEMA Id: 2432, Natural disaster type: Fire
Colorado Missionary Ridge Fire, Incident Period: June 09, 2002 to August 09, 2002, Fire Management Assistance Declared: June 11, 2002, FEMA Id: 2423, Natural disaster type: Fire
Colorado Ute Pass Fire, Incident Period: June 06, 2002 to June 10, 2002, Fire Management Assistance Declared: June 07, 2002, FEMA Id: 2418, Natural disaster type: Fire
Colorado Wildfires, Incident Period: April 23, 2002 to August 06, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1421: June 19, 2002, FEMA Id: 1421, Natural disaster type: Fire
Colorado Drought, Incident Period: January 29, 1977, Emergency Declared EM-3025: January 29, 1977, FEMA Id: 3025, Natural disaster type: Drought
Colorado FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, Incident Period: July 06, 1973, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-396: July 06, 1973, FEMA Id: 396, Natural disaster type: Landslide, Flood
Colorado Heavy Rains, Flooding, Incident Period: September 22, 1970, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-293: September 22, 1970, FEMA Id: 293, Natural disaster type: Flood, Heavy Rain
The number of natural disasters in La Plata County (8) is smaller than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 3 Emergencies Declared: 2
Food preparation and serving related occupations (9%)
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (5%)
Transportation occupations (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Office and administrative support occupations (16%)
Sales and related occupations (13%)
Education, training, and library occupations (11%)
Management occupations (10%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (8%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (8%)
Business and financial operations occupations (6%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (42%)
Canada (6%)
Ethiopia (5%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (5%)
Philippines (5%)
Chile (4%)
Bolivia (4%)
Most common first ancestries reported in La Plata County (%):
German (10%)
American (9%)
Irish (7%)
English (6%)
European (4%)
Italian (3%)
Scottish (3%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 21,441 (71.8%)
Carpooled: 2,964 (9.9%)
Bus or trolley bus: 419 (1.4%)
Ferryboat: 31 (0.1%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 538 (1.8%)
Bicycle: 715 (2.4%)
Walked: 1,533 (5.1%)
Worked at home: 2,150 (7.2%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in La Plata County, Colorado in 2000:
1,268 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
146 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
142 people in nursing homes
72 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
65 people in religious group quarters
54 people in halfway houses
41 people in unknown juvenile institutions
15 people in other group homes
12 people in other nonhousehold living situations
10 people in homes for the mentally ill
People in group quarters in La Plata County, Colorado in 2010:
1,276 people in college/university student housing
154 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
120 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
51 people in correctional residential facilities
49 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
27 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
25 people in other noninstitutional facilities
13 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $63,316.
8.12% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($43,864 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
8.12%
Colorado average:
9.68%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.42% relocated from other counties in Colorado ($9,760 average AGI)
5.70% relocated from other states ($34,104 average AGI)
La Plata County:
5.70%
Colorado average:
4.25%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in La Plata County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 5,731 (5,022 aged, 709 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 1,974 (19%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in La Plata County, Colorado in 1999 - 2014:
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (270)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (212)
7,313 married couples with children.
2,398 single-parent households (692 men, 1,706 women).
89.6% of residents of La Plata speak English at home.
7.0% of residents speak Spanish at home (86% speak English very well, 5% speak English well, 7% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
1.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (96% speak English very well, 1% speak English well, 2% speak English not well).
0.4% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (95% speak English very well, 3% speak English well, 1% speak English not well).
1.7% of residents speak other language at home (93% speak English very well, 6% speak English well, 1% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $201,990,000 ($4,347 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $6,631,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $82,299,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $35,618,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $1,889,000 Federal grants: $47,417,000 Federal procurement contracts: $10,717,000 ($83,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $24,050,000 ($100,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $757,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $30,101,000 Federal Government insurance: $169,076,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,536
Here:
53 per 1000 residents
State:
76 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,335
Here:
28 per 1000 residents
State:
32 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +174
Here:
+4 per 1000 residents
State:
+24 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +2,204
Here:
+46 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Population growth in La Plata County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 7.01 millions of gallons per day (18% from ground, 82% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.9
State:
6.8
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.3
State:
4.1
Year house built
2014 or later: 559
2010 to 2013: 662
2000 to 2009: 5,451
1990 to 1999: 6,000
1980 to 1989: 4,475
1970 to 1979: 4,396
1960 to 1969: 1,433
1950 to 1959: 1,663
1940 to 1949: 778
1939 or earlier: 1,696
Note: State values scaled to La Plata population
Rooms in houses/apartments in La Plata County, Colorado
Note: State values scaled to La Plata County population
no vehicle: 238
1 vehicle: 2,999
2 vehicles: 6,977
3 vehicles: 3,289
4 vehicles: 984
5+ vehicles: 666
no vehicle: 250
1 vehicle: 3,296
2 vehicles: 2,471
3 vehicles: 745
4 vehicles: 323
5+ vehicles: 64
80% of La Plata County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 34% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 30% lived in Colorado.
La Plata County:
80.2%
State average:
81.5%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 19,453
Other state: 33,804
Northeast: 3,691
Midwest: 8,986
South: 7,250
West: 13,928
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in La Plata County
Click here to upload your La Plata County photos (outside city limits)
39.3 years
36.7 years
(50.7%)
(49.3%)
, Jefferson County, Missouri 
, Laclede County, Missouri 
