County population in 2012: 18,698 (66% urban, 34% rural); it was 20,311 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,905 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,114 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,483 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,710 (it was 2,437 in 2000)
% of renters here:
31%
State:
34%
Land area: 1263 sq. mi. Water area: 6.9 sq. mi.
Population density: 15 people per square mile
(low).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Otero County: 80.5 (low, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (25.0%), Retail trade (11.3%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $504 (0.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $391 (0.5%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 22.2%
(14.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.4% for Black residents, 32.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 20.3% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 32.5% for other race residents, 17.8% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 40 years old
(Males: 39 years old, Females: 42 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 44 years old, Black residents: 20 years old, American Indian residents: 39 years old, Asian residents: 36 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 31 years old, Other race residents: 30 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
18.8%
Whole state:
9.3%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
6.4%
Whole state:
4.1%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Otero County is $414 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $503 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $697 a month.
Cemeteries: Martinez Cemetery (1), Holbrook Cemetery (2), Hillcrest Cemetery (3), Valley View Cemetery (4), Mount View Cemetery (5), Fowler Cemetery (6), Otero County Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Cheraw Lake (A), May Water (B), Taylor Lake (C), Manby Lake (D), Horse Creek Reservoir (E), Dye Reservoir (F), Holbrook Reservoir (G), Swink Reservoir Number 2 (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Apishapa River (A), Harbordale Arroyo (B), Taylor Arroyo (C), Iron Springs Arroyo (D), Powell Arroyo (E), Jack Treese Arroyo (F), Bear Springs Arroyo (G), Saunders Arroyo (H), Timpas Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 963 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 75.7% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 15.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 990 (19% naturalized citizens)
Otero County:
4.9%
Whole state:
8.6%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 221
1990 to 1994: 258
1985 to 1989: 119
1980 to 1984: 61
1975 to 1979: 66
1970 to 1974: 107
1970 to 1974: 52
1965 to 1969: 106
Mean travel time to work (commute): 18.0 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 84.0%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 6,928
One, attached: 141
Two: 277
3 or 4: 145
5 to 9: 225
10 to 19: 132
20 or more: 269
Mobile homes: 696
Housing units in Otero County with a mortgage: 2,405 (280 second mortgage, 131 home equity loan, 2 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,898
Here:
55.9% with mortgage
State:
79.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 77.37%
Here
77.4%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 15,714 Total congregations: 52
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
Southern Baptist Convention
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Adherents
9,441 (60.1%)
1,139 (7.2%)
789 (5.0%)
690 (4.4%)
468 (3.0%)
Congregations
4 (7.7%)
6 (11.5%)
5 (9.6%)
4 (7.7%)
2 (3.8%)
Name
American Baptist Churches in the USA
Mennonite Church USA
LDS (Mormon) Church
Church of the Nazarene
Other
Adherents
410 (2.6%)
381 (2.4%)
372 (2.4%)
296 (1.9%)
1,728 (11.0%)
Congregations
3 (5.8%)
3 (5.8%)
1 (1.9%)
4 (7.7%)
20 (38.5%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 1120 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $217,194 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $351.62 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 89.04% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $216,831 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 6.05% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 97.31% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $94,102 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 90.37% Average age of principal farm operators: 52 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 12.31 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.05% Corn for grain: 4088 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 2531 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 273 harvested acres Vegetables: 1,977 harvested acres Land in orchards: 12 acres
Tornado activity:
Otero County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is near Colorado state average. It is 1.9 times below overall U.S. average.
Earthquake activity:
Otero County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly below Colorado state average. It is 79% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/10/2005 at 22:08:22, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 95.8 miles away from the county center On 1/3/2007 at 14:34:38, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, 4.4 MW, 4.4 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 92.7 miles away from the county center On 9/5/2001 at 10:52:07, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 78.5 miles away from the county center On 8/10/2005 at 22:08:16, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 95.9 miles away from Otero County center On 9/4/2001 at 12:45:53, a magnitude 4.0 (4.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 79.7 miles away from the county center On 8/1/1996 at 05:44:22, a magnitude 3.8 (3.8 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 52.1 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Colorado Snow, Incident Period: December 28, 2006 to December 31, 2006, Emergency Declared (EM-3271): January 7, 2007, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3271, Natural disaster type: Snow
Colorado Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3224): September 5, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3224, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Colorado Wildfires, Incident Period: April 23, 2002 to August 6, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1421): June 19, 2002, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1421, Natural disaster type: Fire
Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides, Incident Period: April 29, 1999 to May 19, 1999, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1276): May 17, 1999, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1276, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Landslide, Flood
Colorado Flooding, Incident Period: July 28, 1997 to August 12, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1186): August 1, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1186, Natural disaster type: Flood
Colorado TORNADOES, SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: June 19, 1965, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-200): June 19, 1965, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-200, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
The number of natural disasters in Otero County (6) is smaller than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 4 Emergencies Declared: 2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6%)
Farmers and farm managers (6%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (6%)
Agricultural workers including supervisors (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5%)
Law enforcement workers including supervisors (4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (7%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (6%)
Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (6%)
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Other teachers and instructors, education, training, and library occupations (3%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (81%)
Germany (5%)
Pakistan (3%)
India (2%)
Ireland (1%)
Korea (1%)
Trinidad and Tobago (1%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Otero County (%):
German (15%)
United States or American (9%)
English (7%)
Irish (7%)
Italian (3%)
Scottish (2%)
Scotch-Irish (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 6,114 (75%)
Carpooled: 1,167 (14%)
Bus or trolley bus: 40 (0%)
Taxi: 7 (0%)
Motorcycle: 5 (0%)
Bicycle: 22 (0%)
Walked: 439 (5%)
Other means: 19 (0%)
Worked at home: 392 (5%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Otero County, Colorado in 2000:
264 people in nursing homes
155 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
65 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
24 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
23 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
19 people in homes for the mentally retarded
8 people in homes for the mentally ill
6 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
4 people in other group homes
People in group quarters in Otero County, Colorado in 2010:
207 people in college/university student housing
163 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
38 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
25 people in group homes intended for adults
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $35,710.
5.92% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($27,679 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.92%
Colorado average:
10.77%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.79% relocated from other counties in Colorado ($17,853 average AGI)
2.13% relocated from other states ($9,826 average AGI)
Otero County:
2.13%
Colorado average:
4.67%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.89% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($29,271 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.89%
Colorado average:
10.03%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.76% relocated to other counties in Colorado ($20,188 average AGI)
2.13% relocated to other states ($9,083 average AGI)
Otero County:
2.13%
Colorado average:
3.96%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 14.6 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 14.6
Births per 1000 population in Otero County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.9 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.8
Deaths per 1000 population in Otero County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 5.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 7.3
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Otero County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 4,085 (3,378 aged, 707 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 22% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 17%
Household type by relationship:
Households: 18,398
In family households: 15,313 (3,474 male householders, 1,561 female householders)
3,555 spouses, 5,266 children (4,791 natural, 155 adopted, 320 stepchildren), 554 grandchildren, 125 brothers or sisters, 114 parents, 188 other relatives, 405 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,085 (1,257 male householders (1,076 living alone)), 1,437 female householders (1,287 living alone)), 391 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 433 (201 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,414 2-persons, 1,101 3-persons, 830 4-persons, 436 5-persons, 175 6-persons, 79 7-or-more-persons.
78.1% of residents of Otero County speak English at home.
20.8% of residents speak Spanish at home (61% speak English very well, 20% speak English well, 12% speak English not well, 7% don't speak English at all).
0.9% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (60% speak English very well, 19% speak English well, 21% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (38% speak English very well, 62% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English very well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $164,491,000 ($8390 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $2,488,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $61,181,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $34,023,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $4,228,000 Federal grants: $55,454,000 Federal procurement contracts: $2,101,000 ($17,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $7,502,000 ($275,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $3,972,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $8,134,000 Federal Government insurance: $16,247,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,550
Here:
80 per 1000 residents
State:
76 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,171
Here:
60 per 1000 residents
State:
32 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +196
Here:
+10 per 1000 residents
State:
+24 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -1,370
Here:
-70 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Otero County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 3.39 millions of gallons per day (68% from ground, 32% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.9
State:
6.5
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.2
State:
3.9
Year house built
2005 or later: 76
2000 to 2004: 217
1990 to 1999: 786
1980 to 1989: 645
1970 to 1979: 1,216
1960 to 1969: 884
1950 to 1959: 1,048
1940 to 1949: 1,082
1939 or earlier: 2,973
Rooms in houses/apartments in Otero County, Colorado
57% of Otero County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 62% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 58% lived in Colorado.
Otero County:
56.9%
State average:
45.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 13320
Northeast: 238
Midwest: 2472
South: 1453
West: 1764
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $63,700
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Otero County
40.0 years
36.0 years
(52.7%)
(47.3%)
, Crowley County 
, Kiowa County 
, Las Animas County 
, Pueblo County 
.
