Editing Rio Blanco County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county    = Rio Blanco County
 | state              = Colorado
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1889
 | founded date       = March 25
 | seat wl              = Meeker
 | largest city wl      = Meeker
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 3223
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 3221
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.9
 | area percentage      = 0.06
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 6529
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 6569 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web              = www.rbc.us
 | named for            = [[White River (Green River)|White River]]
 | ex image             = Rio Blanco County, Colorado.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Entering the county from the south on [[Colorado State Highway 13|State Highway 13]].
 | district             = 3rd
  |pop_est_footnotes=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> }}

'''Rio Blanco County''' ({{langx|es|Condado del Río Blanco|link=}}) is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,529.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rioblancocountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420113747/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rioblancocountycolorado/PST045219|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Meeker, Colorado|Meeker]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|archive-date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The name of the county is the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] name for the [[White River (Green River)|White River]] which runs through it.

==History==
Rio Blanco County was created on March 25, 1889, when it was split from Garfield County. The town of Meeker became the county seat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rio Blanco County, Colorado Genealogy Guide |url=https://raogk.org/colorado/rio-blanco-county/ |website=Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness |access-date=February 27, 2021 |date=July 5, 2016 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122033200/https://raogk.org/colorado/rio-blanco-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 17, 1973, Rio Blanco County became one of two counties in Colorado to have a [[peaceful nuclear explosion]] as a part of [[Operation Plowshare]]. There were three nearly simultaneous explosions targeted at producing unconventional natural gas, all detonated as [[Project Rio Blanco]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rio Blanco, Colorado, Site |url=https://www.energy.gov/lm/rio-blanco-colorado-site |website=Energy.gov |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227145935/https://www.energy.gov/lm/rio-blanco-colorado-site |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The other county is [[Garfield County, Colorado|Garfield County]] under [[Project Rulison]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|3223|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3221|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (0.06%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Moffat County, Colorado|Moffat County]] - north
* [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]] - northeast
* [[Garfield County, Colorado|Garfield County]] - south
* [[Uintah County, Utah|Uintah County]], [[Utah]] - west

===Major highways===
* [[File:Colorado 13.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 13|State Highway 13]]
* [[File:Colorado 64.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 64|State Highway 64]]
* [[File:Colorado 139.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 139|State Highway 139]]

===National protected areas===
*[[Routt National Forest]]
*[[White River National Forest]]
*[[Flat Tops Wilderness]]

===Scenic byways===
*[[Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway]]
*[[Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway]]

===State parks and wildlife areas===
* [[Colorow Mountain|Colorow Mountain State Wildlife Area]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1200
|1900= 1690
|1910= 2332
|1920= 3135
|1930= 2980
|1940= 2943
|1950= 4719
|1960= 5150
|1970= 4842
|1980= 6255
|1990= 5972
|2000= 5986
|2010= 6666
|2020= 6529
|estyear=2023
|estimate=6569
|estref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=July 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731171012/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 5,986 people, 2,306 households, and 1,646 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 2,855 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 95.01% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 4.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Of the 2,306 households 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.

The median household income was $37,711 and the median family income was $44,425. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $19,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,344. About 6.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Rio Blanco County is home to Meeker School District RE-1 and Rangely School District RE-4,{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} as well as Rangely Christian Academy, a private K-8 school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/rangely-christian-academy-319861 |title=Rangely Christian Academy |date= |website=US News & World Report |access-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-date=February 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209143929/https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/rangely-christian-academy-319861 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The county is home to [[Colorado Northwestern Community College]] in Rangely, as well as an extension of [[Colorado State University]] in Meeker.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rbc.us/205/CSU-Extension |title=CSU Extension &#124; Rio Blanco County, CO |access-date=September 20, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022114943/https://rbc.us/205/CSU-Extension |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics==
Rio Blanco is an overwhelmingly Republican county in Presidential elections. It was along with [[Clark County, Idaho]] and [[Kane County, Utah]] one of only three counties west of the [[Continental Divide]] to vote for [[Alf Landon]] over [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] in 1936. In that election Rio Blanco was Landon's strongest county in the eleven western states, marginally shading normal Republican “banner county” Kane. Since that time only two Democrats – [[Harry S. Truman]] in 1948 and [[Lyndon Johnson]] who narrowly carried the county in 1964 – have obtained over forty percent of the county's vote. In fact, since 1968 only one Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and him only very marginally, has topped thirty percent of Rio Blanco County's ballots. In 2024, the county saw a swing to the Democratic nominee [[Kamala Harris]] (against both the state and national trends) but [[Donald Trump]] was still able to attain over 80% of the vote. 

{{PresHead|place=Rio Blanco County, Colorado|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,988|637|67|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,061|561|69|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,791|436|223|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,724|568|77|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,437|655|55|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,403|566|34|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,185|543|127|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,697|731|287|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,231|778|841|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,821|803|38|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,131|484|22|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,971|462|214|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,439|627|74|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,586|414|53|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,294|502|207|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,015|1,134|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,391|794|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,593|635|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,612|633|12|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|981|752|18|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|881|451|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,021|530|8|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|830|587|71|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|687|826|32|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|860|429|24|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|766|407|86|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|793|455|26|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|468|702|16|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|372|538|209|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|384|466|23|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|552|391|7|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|276|391|8|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|52|454|1|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|127|0|223|Colorado}}

In other statewide elections, Rio Blanco County also leans Republican, although it was carried by Democrat [[Roy Romer]] in 1990<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106120024/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 |date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate [[Tom Tancredo]] in 2010.<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106120022/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 |date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> Rio Blanco County was also carried by Democratic Senatorial candidate [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell|“Nighthorse” Campbell]] in 1992,<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1992&fips=8&f=1&off=3&elect=0&class=3 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado]</ref> although since then no Democratic candidate for this office has surpassed thirty percent since.

==Communities==

===Towns===
*[[Meeker, Colorado|Meeker]] (county seat)
*[[Rangely, Colorado|Rangely]]

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Buford, Colorado|Buford]]
*[[White River City, Colorado|White River City]]<ref>{{cite gnis |id=171722 |name= White River City |entry-date=December 31, 1981}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
**[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rio Blanco County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rio Blanco County, Colorado}}
* [http://www.rbc.us Rio Blanco County Government website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Rio Blanco County, Colorado
|North     = [[Moffat County, Colorado|Moffat County]]
|Northeast = [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]]
|East      = [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Garfield County, Colorado|Garfield County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Uintah County, Utah]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Rio Blanco County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|39.98|-108.20|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Rio Blanco County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1889]]