Pueblo County, Colorado

Pueblo County ( or ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,162. The county seat is Pueblo. The county was named for the historic city of Pueblo which took its name from the Spanish language word meaning "town" or "village". Pueblo County comprises the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2398 sqmi, of which 2386 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * El Paso County - north
 * Lincoln County - northeast
 * Crowley County - east
 * Otero County - east
 * Las Animas County - south
 * Huerfano County - southwest
 * Custer County - west
 * Fremont County - northwest

Major highways

 * I-25 (CO).svg Interstate 25
 * US 50.svg U.S. Highway 50
 * US 85.svg U.S. Highway 85
 * Colorado 10.svg State Highway 10
 * Colorado 45.svg State Highway 45
 * Colorado 47.svg State Highway 47
 * Colorado 78.svg State Highway 78
 * Colorado 96.svg State Highway 96
 * Colorado 120.svg State Highway 120
 * Colorado 165.svg State Highway 165
 * Colorado 167.svg State Highway 167

National protected areas

 * San Isabel National Forest
 * Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness

Trails and byways

 * American Discovery Trail
 * Frontier Pathways National Scenic and Historic Byway
 * TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
 * Western Express Bicycle Route

Demographics
As of the Census 2007 statistical update, there were 154,712 people, 59,956 households, and 40,084 families living in the county. The population density was 59 /mi2. There were 67,314 housing units at an average density of 25 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 79.47% White, 1.90% Black or African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 12.93% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. 37.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German, 8.8% Italian, 6.7% English, 6.6% American and 6.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 59,956 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.10% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,283, and the median income for a family was $50,143. The per capita income for the county was $21,656. About 11.20% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The Board of Pueblo County Commissioners is elected by voters to represent three individual districts within Pueblo County. The board serves as the administrative and policy-setting authority for Pueblo County.

Pueblo County is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district and is represented by U.S. House member Lauren Boebert.

At the state level the following representatives have boundaries that cover parts of Pueblo County: Nick Hinrichsen representing Senate District 3, Tisha Mauro House representing House District 46, Ty Winter representing District 47, Stephanie Luck representing District 60 and Matt Martinez representing District 62.

Law enforcement
The sheriff's office is responsible for law enforcement and fire protection for unincorporated area in the county. the department had 362 sworn members.

Politics
Pueblo County is historically a Democratic stronghold; however, in the 2016 presidential election, the county voted for Republican nominee Donald Trump. It was brought back into the Democratic fold in the years which followed, voting for Jared Polis in the 2018 gubernatorial election and giving Joe Biden a plurality in the 2020 presidential election, although Biden's margin of victory of 1.7 percent was much reduced from Barack Obama's 14 percent margin in 2012.

City

 * Pueblo

Towns

 * Boone
 * Rye

Census-designated places

 * Avondale
 * Beulah Valley
 * Blende
 * Colorado City
 * Pueblo West
 * Salt Creek
 * Vineland

Education
School districts serving the county include:
 * Pueblo School District 60
 * Pueblo County School District 70
 * Edison School District 54-JT
 * Fowler School District R-4J

Pueblo County has thirteen high schools.

Recreation

 * Rosemount Museum
 * Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center
 * Buell Children's Museum
 * El Pueblo History Museum
 * Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
 * Steelworks Museum
 * Lake Pueblo State Park
 * Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center
 * Pueblo Zoo
 * Pueblo City Park Carousel
 * Arkansas River kayak course
 * Historic Arkansas Riverwalk
 * Union Avenue Historic Commercial District
 * Pueblo City-County Library District