Formed March 25, 1889 (47th county)
Rio Blanco County (6,531), Meeker (2,380)
The Art Deco building made of tan brick is the courthouse for Rio Blanco County. This original courthouse was built in 1935 on Main Street between 5th and 6th streets. C. Francis Pillsbury is the architect. An addition was added in 1956. A Justice Center is next door. Veteran memorials are on the grounds. Meeker is the only county seat. Colorado State Highway 13 is one block south of the site. Rio Blanco County was established on March 25, 1889 from Routt County as the 47th county. The county is named for the “White River” (Spanish translation of Rio Blanco.) Nathan Meeker, United States agent killed in a local raid, provided the inspiration for the county seat name. The center of the county is 25.5 miles West-Southwest of Meeker.
Rio Blanco County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Five District Court Judges serve Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Pitkin counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Rio Blanco County (judicial.) The county is located in the northwest part of the state on the border with Utah. The county is surrounded clockwise by Moffat, Routt, and Garfield counties and Utah.
The area of the county is 3226.2 square miles. The county is 6 out of 64 in the state. It ranks 45 out of 64 in population in the state. It has a density of 2.0 persons per square mile making it 55 out of 64 in the state. Rio Blanco County has 71.7% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The stair stepped southern border gives the county the shape of the number 9 lying face down. Meeker is located in the eastern third of the county. Meeker is the county seat and the largest city. It is 36.4% of the county population. The county is pronounced REE-O BLON-KOE.
Meeker
Rangely
