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.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,398 square miles (6,210 km2), of which 2,386 square miles (6,180 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.5%) is water.
Major highways
I-25 / US 85 / US 87
US 50
SH 10
SH 45
SH 47
SH 78
SH 96
SH 120
SH 165
SH 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
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 168,162. Of the residents, 22.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males. 86.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 13.1% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 64.7% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.0% from some other race, and 17.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 41.6% of the population.
There were 67,095 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 71,981 housing units, of which 6.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.2% were owner-occupied and 33.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.
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 people per square mile (23 people/km2). There were 67,314 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/km2). 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.
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 coterminous with the 10th Judicial District which is represented by District Attorney Kala Beauvais.
Pueblo County is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district and is represented by U.S. House member Jeff Hurd.
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. As of 2022, 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. The county flipped back Republican in the 2024 presidential election, this time with a full majority.
Communities
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.