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Baca County, Colorado

Coordinates: 37°19′N 102°34′W / 37.32°N 102.56°W / 37.32; -102.56
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Baca County
County
The Baca County Courthouse in Springfield.
The Baca County Courthouse in Springfield.
Map of Colorado highlighting Baca County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°19′N 102°34′W / 37.32°N 102.56°W / 37.32; -102.56
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedApril 16, 1889
Named forFelipe Baca
SeatSpringfield
Largest townSpringfield
Area
 • Total2,557 sq mi (6,620 km2)
 • Land2,555 sq mi (6,620 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.09%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,506[1]
 • Density1.4/sq mi (0.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitebacacountyco.gov

Baca County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,506.[1] The county seat is Springfield.[2] Located at the southeast corner of Colorado, the county shares state borders with Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

History

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Baca County was created by the Colorado legislature on April 16, 1889, out of eastern portions of Las Animas County. Baca County was named in honor of pioneer and Colorado territorial legislator Felipe Baca.

Prior to the 1880s there was little activity in the county, other than along the Cutoff Branch of the Santa Fe Trail that crosses its extreme southeastern corner. The 1910s saw wet years and expansion due to the increase in acreage that could be homesteaded. World War I also brought increased demand for agricultural products. The arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1926 created new towns and a population increase.

The Dust Bowl arrived in the 1930s, with Baca County being one of the hardest hit areas.[3] This prompted soil conservation efforts by the federal government. Part of this effort was the purchase of cultivated land by the government in order to return it to grassland. Today the U.S. Forest Service supervises 220,000 acres of Comanche National Grassland which was purchased in the 1930s. These areas include Carrizo Creek and Picture Canyon. Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains the recreational areas at Two Buttes Lake and Turk's Pond.

On May 18, 1977, an F4 tornado struck the southeastern portion of Baca County, causing an estimated $2.5 million in damage. It tracked from Keyes, Oklahoma, where damage was estimated at $25,000.[4] As of 2020, this is the only F4/EF4 tornado ever recorded in Colorado since 1950.[5][6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,557 square miles (6,620 km2), of which 2,555 square miles (6,620 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.09%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National historic trail

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,479—
1900759−48.7%
19102,516231.5%
19208,721246.6%
193010,57021.2%
19406,207−41.3%
19507,96428.3%
19606,310−20.8%
19705,674−10.1%
19805,419−4.5%
19904,556−15.9%
20004,517−0.9%
20103,788−16.1%
20203,506−7.4%
2023 (est.)3,344[8]−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 4,517 people, 1,905 households, and 1,268 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 2,364 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.99% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 7.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,905 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,099, and the median income for a family was $34,018. Males had a median income of $23,169 versus $18,292 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,068. About 12.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

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The town is served by the Southeast Colorado Hospital.[14] Springfield Municipal Airport is located a few miles north of Springfield.

Politics

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Like all of the High Plains, Baca County has long been overwhelmingly Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide – when he carried all but three Colorado counties.

United States presidential election results for Baca County, Colorado[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,867 83.91% 317 14.25% 41 1.84%
2016 1,753 81.42% 283 13.14% 117 5.43%
2012 1,559 74.03% 467 22.17% 80 3.80%
2008 1,572 72.28% 536 24.64% 67 3.08%
2004 1,680 76.85% 483 22.10% 23 1.05%
2000 1,663 73.00% 531 23.31% 84 3.69%
1996 1,321 59.53% 659 29.70% 239 10.77%
1992 1,240 47.29% 726 27.69% 656 25.02%
1988 1,670 65.34% 851 33.29% 35 1.37%
1984 1,903 75.85% 580 23.12% 26 1.04%
1980 1,999 74.26% 551 20.47% 142 5.27%
1976 1,303 51.97% 1,164 46.43% 40 1.60%
1972 1,645 73.93% 527 23.69% 53 2.38%
1968 1,441 57.55% 719 28.71% 344 13.74%
1964 1,241 47.40% 1,366 52.18% 11 0.42%
1960 1,815 65.48% 952 34.34% 5 0.18%
1956 1,715 59.63% 1,150 39.99% 11 0.38%
1952 2,122 65.57% 1,094 33.81% 20 0.62%
1948 1,260 47.51% 1,368 51.58% 24 0.90%
1944 1,528 61.89% 941 38.11% 0 0.00%
1940 1,567 56.53% 1,167 42.10% 38 1.37%
1936 1,288 39.46% 1,797 55.06% 179 5.48%
1932 1,349 34.02% 2,247 56.67% 369 9.31%
1928 2,108 78.48% 524 19.51% 54 2.01%
1924 1,174 46.35% 653 25.78% 706 27.87%
1920 1,615 63.21% 695 27.20% 245 9.59%
1916 826 35.03% 1,294 54.88% 238 10.09%
1912 318 28.24% 430 38.19% 378 33.57%
1908 215 53.48% 179 44.53% 8 1.99%
1904 203 60.60% 130 38.81% 2 0.60%
1900 157 53.95% 134 46.05% 0 0.00%
1896 125 47.71% 135 51.53% 2 0.76%
1892 157 39.55% 0 0.00% 240 60.45%

Communities

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl
    Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl
  • Dust Storm in Baca County, 1935.
    Dust Storm in Baca County, 1935.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ Laskin, David (December 17, 2005). "Laying Bare Dust Bowl's Scar Tissue". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  4. ^ "Event 9987497". Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "Colorado EF4+ tornado search". Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "All Colorado F4 tornadoes". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ "About us". Southeast Colorado Hospital District. 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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