La Plata

Formed February 10, 1874 (24^th county)

La Plata County (55,639), Durango (19,089)                

A Modern style red/brown brick governmental building serves as the courthouse.  The courthouse was built in 1958 using the designs of C. Francis Pillsbury.  The 1891 courthouse was torn down in 1964.  The current facility is located on 2^nd Avenue between 10^th and 11^th streets.  United States Highway 550 is three blocks west of the site.  The courthouse was remodeled and enlarged in 1989.  It features a tower.  La Plata County was created on February 10, 1874 from Lake County as the 24^th county.  Parrott City had the original county seat with the change to Durango in 1881.  The county got its name from the La Plata River which is Spanish for “silver.”  Durango’s name comes from Durango, Mexico.  The center of the county is 10.6 miles East of Durango. 

La Plata County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four District Court Judges serve La Plata, Archuleta, and San Juan counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve La Plata County (judicial.)  The county is located in southwest Colorado on the border with New Mexico.  The county is surrounded clockwise by San Juan, Hinsdale, and Archuleta counties and New Mexico and Montezuma and Dolores counties.  

The area of the county is 1700.4 square miles.  The county is 27 out of 64 in the state.  It ranks 15 out of 64 in population in the state.  It has a density of 32.7 persons per square mile making it 17 out of 64 in the state.  La Plata County has 40.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 160 crosses east to west through the county from Archuleta County to Montezuma County.  United States Highway 550 goes north to south entering from San Juan County and exiting into New Mexico.  The county is shaped like a plow.  Durango is located in the center of the county.  Durango is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 34.3% of the county population.  The county is pronounced LA PLA-TAH.  The county seat is pronounced DUH-RAN-GOE.  The county is in the Durango Micropolitan Statistical Area.