Las Animas

Formed February 9, 1866 (18^th county)

Las Animas County (14,557), Trinidad (8,337)

The early 20^th century Neo-Classical style government building is the Las Animas courthouse.  The facility was constructed in 1912.  The courthouse is located on 1^st Street between Chestnut and Maple streets.  United States Highways 160/350 are one block north of the site.  Rapp Brothers and William Hendricks are the stone courthouse architects.  The courthouse has faux columns and a Statue of Liberty replica in front.  There was an earlier version of the courthouse in Trinidad, the only county seat.  The county was established on February 9, 1866 from Huerfano County as the 18^th county and later provided territory to Baca County.  The county is named for the Animas River, Spanish for “River of the Lost Souls.”  Trinidad comes from the Spanish word for “trinity.”  The center of the county is 29.9 miles East-Northeast of Trinidad nearer Model. 

Las Animas County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two District Court Judges serve Las Animas and Huerfano counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Las Animas County (judicial.)  Las Animas County is in southeast Colorado on the border with New Mexico.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Otero, Bent, and Baca counties and New Mexico and Costilla, Huerfano, and Pueblo counties.  

The area of the county is 4773.3 square miles.  The county is 1 out of 64 in the state.  It ranks 33 out of 64 in population in the state.  It has a density of 3.0 persons per square mile making it 50 out of 64 in the state.  Las Animas County has 62.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 25 crosses north to south through the county, Huerfano County to New Mexico.  United States Highways 85/87 are joined with Interstate Highway 25 from Huerfano County to New Mexico.  United States Highway 160 also is joined with Interstate Highway 25 from Huerfano County, splits away in Trinidad, and exits east into Baca County.  United States Highway 350 enters from Otero County, northeast, and terminates at Trinidad.  The county shape resembles a small letter r lying on its back.  Trinidad is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Trinidad is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 57.3% of the county population.  The county is pronounced LAS AN-I-MAS.